The Scientific Revolution

I have studied science and the history of science for a long time. I taught experimental methodology at Emory University also. This book is a must-read for it's unique insights into the culture and mindset of the times when science arose and how it related to the politics of the era (revolutions, protestant reformation, and freedom etc.). I enjoyed how the author shows the relationship of religious ideas of the time to science -- they were reading the "other holy book" or "the book of nature" which was available for all to read. An especially interesting aspect of this book for me was that at the end of it he shows that practical ideas or purposes were not the motive for the research that was done, and that much of the best practical applications of the research which was done around the 16-1700's did not come into play until much later -- hundreds of years later in many instances. The abstract pursuit of truth about the world, the reading of "the other holy book" was the thing. (I emphasize this aspect of science in my own book also) The Textbook of the Universe: The Genetic Ascent to God . It also brings to light other important differences with other cultures -- such as why science never took off in asia before western ideas invaded over there. Oriental philosophy and thinking tends to be resolutely practical to the point that it could be considered a form of blindness for them. Their history of philosophy is filled with practical conundrums, not abstract theories of universal truths. They never had any individualistic freedom movements either. That difference is an extremely important insight into the western impetus to science. We did it naturally, and it was originally a fundamentally religious pursuit for us. The other main insight in this book is that our urges for freedom and individualism were bound up inextricably with our desire to read the "book of nature". This is the core of western thinking in general which gave rise to science. It defines us. I can think of no greater insight to the nature of western European thinking than this. Science, freedom, individualism, and our natural ideas of religion -- they go together. I have read no other book that illustrates and elucidates this supremely important point and foundation of science better than this one little book. It is small, but it is a powerhouse. Other than that, it is a great read, hard to put down. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the scientific revolution.

A must read for students of the scientific revolution

ho avviato da più di dieci giorni la pratica di reso e nonostante fossi stato avvisato che il corriere sarebbe passato il 12 agosto, sono ancora in attesa di poter restituire l'articolo

Ein absolutes Muss für jeden, der sich mit Wissenschaftsgeschichte beschäftigt. Leider nicht mehr auf deutsch erhältlich - dann halt auf englisch.

their service is very fast and the quality is good. The book itself is great as well. So it is a good experience.