Science and the Enlightenment (Camb...
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Science and the Enlightenment is a general history of eighteenth-century science covering both the physical and life sciences. It places the scientific developments of the century…
Book Summary
Science and the Enlightenment by Thomas L. Hankins is a concise, accessible history of eighteenth-century science. It covers both physical and life sciences, placing them in the cultural context of the Enlightenment. The book shows how scientific ideas permeated the age and how disciplines were organized differently from today. It is ideal for students and general readers with some science background.
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About Science and the Enlightenment (Camb...
Thomas L. Hankins's Science and the Enlightenment offers a general history of eighteenth-century science, covering both the physical and life sciences. Rather than treating science in isolation, Hankins situates scientific developments within the cultural context of the Enlightenment, revealing how scientific ideas permeated the thought of the age. The book draws on recent topical scholarship that is rapidly changing our understanding of eighteenth-century science. In particular, it describes how science was organized into fields quite different from those we know today. Hankins's study is not technical, making it accessible to students of the Enlightenment, historians of science, and general readers with some background in science. It is a much-needed addition to the literature on eighteenth-century science.
Who should read Science and the Enlightenment (Camb...?
This book is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students of the Enlightenment, the history of science, and eighteenth-century studies. It also suits general readers with some science background who want a clear, non-technical overview of how science developed during the Enlightenment. Teachers and historians seeking a concise synthesis of recent scholarship will find it valuable, as will anyone interested in how scientific ideas shaped the culture of the age.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Accessible and non-technical writing style suitable for non-specialists
- ✓ Covers both physical and life sciences in one concise volume
- ✓ Places science in the broader cultural context of the Enlightenment
- ✓ Incorporates recent topical scholarship and changing interpretations
- ✓ Explains how eighteenth-century scientific disciplines differed from modern ones
Cons
- ✗ Some prior background in science is helpful for full appreciation
- ✗ May be too general for readers seeking deep technical detail
- ✗ Focus on the Enlightenment may limit coverage of other periods
- ✗ Could be considered dated by some readers given ongoing scholarship
- ✗ Not a primary source collection; relies on secondary synthesis
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Frequently asked questions
Is this book technical?
No, the author states that the study is not technical and is suitable for general readers with some background in science.
Does it cover both physical and life sciences?
Yes, it covers both the physical and life sciences of the eighteenth century.
What is the main argument of the book?
The book argues that scientific developments of the eighteenth century must be understood within the cultural context of the Enlightenment, and that scientific ideas permeated the thought of the age.
Is this a textbook or a general history?
It is a general history aimed at students and general readers, not a formal textbook with exercises.
Does it reflect recent scholarship?
Yes, it takes advantage of topical scholarship that is rapidly changing our understanding of eighteenth-century science.
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