A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility - Softcover

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37 ratings by Goodreads

9781551113326: A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1551113325 ISBN 13: 9781551113326

Publisher: Broadview Press, 2004

A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility is a concise overview that introduces complex ideas in a non-technical fashion without sacrificing the sophistication and richness of the subject.

Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack trace the history of science through its continually changing place in society and explore the link between the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make that knowledge useful.

Along the way, they discuss the specifics of scientific investigation and discovery. Beginning with a small group of philosophers in ancient Greece and ending with nano-technology, A History of Science in Society covers a vast sweep of time and subject matter. Among the many topics discussed are issues such as intellectual competition, gender and class, the economic exploitation of knowledge, and changing ideas about the environment and our relationship to it. Also included are more than 50 illustrations.

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About the Author:

Lesley B. Cormack is Dean of Arts at the University of Alberta and the author of Charting an Empire: Geography at the English Universities, 1580-1620 and co-editor with Andrew Ede of A History of Science in Society: A Reader.
Andrew Ede is Associate Professor of History at the University of Alberta and the author of The Rise and Decline of Colloid Science in North America, 1900-1935: The Neglected Dimension and The Chemical Element: A Historical Perspective.

Review:

A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility is a terrific book.... Informed by recent scholarship on the importance of social constructions in the development of scientific ideas, Ede and Cormack focus on how natural philosophers and scientists increasingly strove to make natural knowledge useful keeps the narrative focused and interesting. Easy to understand diagrams and a thoughtful use of illustrations and other supporting materials will greatly enhance student mastery of difficult concepts. This book is clearly written by two scholars who know how challenging it is to teach the history of science, and their beautifully written, thorough, and engaging book will be a welcome addition to many scholars' and students' bookshelves.

(Deborah E. Harkness, University of California, Davis)

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