The rise of public science : rhetoric, technology, and natural philosophy in Newtonian Britain, 1660-1750

In The Rise of Public Science, Larry Stewart explores social attitudes towards the claims and the activities of the natural philosophers in Britain from the Restoration to the first stage of industrialisation. By examining the activities and the promotions in which Newton's disciples became involved, Stewart sheds light on prevailing and practising attitudes to science and technology before the Industrial Revolution. Troubled by claims of social and political legitimacy, the Newtonian public lecturers took Newton's science far beyond the Royal Society into a world of projectors, patents, and some of the great entrepreneurial scandals of the early eighteenth century. What Became Of The Rhetorical Promises Of The Early Royal Society? How Was It That The Experimental Philosophy Of The Early Newtonians Was Regarded By Some As Destructive Of British Society And By Others As Its Savior? Why Did Numerous Entrepreneurs In The Eighteenth Century Come To See Newton's Disciples As The Means To Ensure Success In The Wild World Of Technical Adventures? In The Convergence Of Social And Intellectual Issues, These Are Some Of The Questions The Rise Of Public Science Seeks To Answer By Exploring The Social Attitudes Toward The Claims And Activities Of The Natural Philosophers In Britain From The Restoration To The First Stage Of Industrialization. Situating Science Amidst The Social And Intellectual Transformation Of The Times, Stewart Considers The Religious Conflicts, Political Changes, And Technological Demands That Influenced The Development Of Natural Philosophy By The Early Eighteenth Century. Through Newton's Disciples, He Explores The Reasons For The Popularity Of Science And Its Controversial Links With A Variety Of Technical And Entrepreneurial Ventures On The Verge Of The Industrial Revolution. I. For Light. 1. Deeds, Not Words. 2. Providence And The Newtonians. 3. Whiston, Clarke, And The Crisis Of Doctrine -- Ii. The Rise Of Public Science. 4. Entrepreneurs Of Science. 5. The Newtonians And The English Transformation. 6. The Longitudinarians. 7. Desaguliers And The Usefulness Of Philosophers -- Iii. For Use. 8. The Culture Of Enterprise Before 1750. 9. The Limits Of Projecting. 10. The Chandos Connection. 11. The Dragons On The Thames. 12. The Engines Of Providence. Larry Stewart. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 395-437) And Index. Larry Stewart explores social attitudes towards the claims and the activities of the natural philosophers especially Newton's theories and disiples in Britain from the Restoration to the first stage of industrialisation.