[Scico-list] Making Modern Science - A Historical Survey - book

[Joseph Kerski]

Folks:

 

Book I thought you might be interested in with review below.  

 

Joseph Kerski

 

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/16577.ctl

 

Bowler, Peter J. and Iwan Rhys Morus, 2005, Making Modern Science: A
Historical Survey.

University of Chicago Press. 464 p., Cloth $65.00sc ISBN:
978-0-226-06860-2 (ISBN-10: 0-226-

06860-9) Spring 2005; Paper $25.00sp ISBN: 978-0-226-06861-9 (ISBN-10:
0-226-06861-7)

Spring 2005

 

The book Making Modern Science by Peter Bowler and Iwan Morus presents

episodes and themes in the history of science. It is designed to be used
as a text in

introductory courses in the history of science as well as a
single-volume introduction for

the general reader.  The first section considers key episodes in the
development of modern science, since the

Scientific Revolution, presenting most major accomplishments in geology,
physics,

chemistry and biology. Contrary to many introductory books in the
philosophy and the

history of science that usually focus on physics, astronomy and
particular aspects of

biology such as Darwinism and genetics, this book also presents the most
important developments

in chemistry, geology and ecology. Not only Newton, Galileo, Darwin or
Mendel but also Priestley,

Wegener and many more are given enough space. In every case the
scientific ideas are clearly

described, while being presented in the context of their development.
Interesting historiographical

details are given in many cases which highlight the interaction of
science with society and describe

how science was done in a particular cultural, political and social
context.

 

The second section is a presentation and analysis of the most important
themes stemming from

the interaction of science with society, in particular of those cases
where the discoveries of science

forced society to reconsider its religious, moral, or philosophical
values. The book discusses all

major issues related to the way science affects many aspects of human
life: technology, medicine,

war, religion to name a few. Hence, rather than just being a chronicle
of major developments in

science, the book stands as a critical review of particular ways of
interaction between science and

society throughout the years. This interaction can be studied through
the chapters on the themes,

without needing to read all the historical details provided in the
chapters on the episodes.

What is more important is that presenting either episodes or themes, all
chapters of the book can

be read independently each providing a separate list of references.
However, the chapters are not

totally separated. The authors have provided cross-references between
chapters of the two sections.

The issues raised in the chapters on the episodes in the history of
science are further discussed in the

relevant chapters of the themes. On the other hand, if one starts with
the themes, he can refer to the

chapters on the episodes for further information on the historical
examples described. According to

the authors' intentions, the cross-references do help the general reader
fit the material together and

provide a comprehensive overview of the history of science.

 

In general, Making Modern Science is a very useful book work that
provides an accessible and

critical introduction, of reasonable length, to the history of modern
science.

 

 

Joseph Kerski

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joseph J. Kerski, Ph.D

Education Industry Curriculum Development Manager

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. ESRI

1 International Court

Broomfield CO 80021-3200  USA

jkerski at esri.com

303-449-7779 x 8237 Voice

303-449-8830 Fax

http://edcommunity.esri.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

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