A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility

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.

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.