Voyaging in Strange Seas: The Great Revolution in Science - Brossura

Knight, David

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0300212755 ISBN 13: 9780300212754

Casa editrice: Yale Univ Pr, 2015

Riassunto

An ambitious, landmark history of the Scientific Revolution, from the age of Columbus to the age of Cook

In 1492 Columbus set out across the Atlantic; in 1776 American colonists declared their independence. Between these two events old authorities collapsed—Luther’s Reformation divided churches, and various discoveries revealed the ignorance of the ancient Greeks and Romans. A new, empirical worldview had arrived, focusing now on observation, experiment, and mathematical reasoning.
 
This engaging book takes us along on the great voyage of discovery that ushered in the modern age. David Knight, a distinguished historian of science, locates the Scientific Revolution in the great era of global oceanic voyages, which became both a spur to and a metaphor for scientific discovery. He introduces the well-known heroes of the story (Galileo, Newton, Linnaeus) as well as lesser-recognized officers of scientific societies, printers and booksellers who turned scientific discovery into public knowledge, and editors who invented the scientific journal. Knight looks at a striking array of topics, from better maps to more accurate clocks, from a boom in printing to medical advancements. He portrays science and religion as engaged with each other rather than in constant conflict; in fact, science was often perceived as a way to uncover and celebrate God’s mysteries and laws. Populated with interesting characters, enriched with fascinating anecdotes, and built upon an acute understanding of the era, this book tells a story as thrilling as any in human history.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull?autore

David Knight is Emeritus Professor of History & Philosophy of Science, Durham University, and former editor of the British Journal for the History of Science. He lives in Durham, UK.

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Yale Univ Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0300212755
• ISBN 13: 9780300212754
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 329
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile