| Author |
Libby, Walter, 1867- |
| LoC No. |
17008227
|
| Title |
An Introduction to the History of Science
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 49.9 (College-level). Difficult to read.
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| Contents |
Science and practical needs: Egypt and Babylonia -- The influence of abstract thought: Greece: Aristotle -- Scientific theory subordinated to application: Rome: Vitruvius -- The continuity of science: the medieval church and the Arabs -- The classification of the sciences: Francis Bacon -- Scientific method: Gilbert, Galileo, Harvey, Descartes -- Science as measurement: Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Boyle -- Coöperation in science: the Royal Society -- Science and the struggle for liberty: Benjamin Franklin -- The interaction of the sciences: Werner, Hutton, Black, Hall, William Smith -- Science and religion: Kant, Lambert, Laplace, Sir William Herschel -- The reign of law: Dalton, Joule -- The scientist: Sir Humphry Davy -- Scientific prediction: the discovery of Neptune -- Science and travel: the voyage of the Beagle -- Science and war: Pasteur, Lister -- Science and invention: Langley's aeroplane -- Scientific hypothesis: radioactive substances -- The scientific imagination -- Science and democratic culture.
|
| Credits |
E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, Paul Clark, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://archive.org/details/americana)
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| Summary |
"An Introduction to the History of Science" by Walter Libby is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The work provides an overview of the development of scientific thought from ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Babylon through to the Greeks and Romans, emphasizing the practical roots of scientific inquiry. It aims to present science as a dynamic, collective pursuit shaped by various cultures and historical contexts. The opening of the book delves into the significance of early scientific practices among ancient civilizations, particularly highlighting Egypt and Babylon. It discusses how these societies created essential systems of measurement and timekeeping, such as the seven-day week and the divisions of the compass, driven by practical needs. The text illustrates that the understanding of astronomy, geometry, and medicine emerged predominantly from efforts to address life's challenges, setting the stage for science as an evolving narrative intertwined with human progress and societal needs. This initial chapter lays a foundation for the subsequent exploration of scientific development, emphasizing its continuity and interconnectedness throughout history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
Q: Science
|
| Subject |
Science -- History
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
40706 |
| Release Date |
Sep 7, 2012 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
236 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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