The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. 1450, Second EditionUniversity of Chicago Press, 15. veebr 2010 - 480 pages When it was first published in 1992, The Beginnings of Western Science was lauded as the first successful attempt ever to present a unified account of both ancient and medieval science in a single volume. Chronicling the development of scientific ideas, practices, and institutions from pre-Socratic Greek philosophy to late-Medieval scholasticism, David C. Lindberg surveyed all the most important themes in the history of science, including developments in cosmology, astronomy, mechanics, optics, alchemy, natural history, and medicine. In addition, he offered an illuminating account of the transmission of Greek science to medieval Islam and subsequently to medieval Europe. The Beginnings of Western Science was, and remains, a landmark in the history of science, shaping the way students and scholars understand these critically formative periods of scientific development. It reemerges here in a second edition that includes revisions on nearly every page, as well as several sections that have been completely rewritten. For example, the section on Islamic science has been thoroughly retooled to reveal the magnitude and sophistication of medieval Muslim scientific achievement. And the book now reflects a sharper awareness of the importance of Mesopotamian science for the development of Greek astronomy. In all, the second edition of The Beginnings of Western Science captures the current state of our understanding of more than two millennia of science and promises to continue to inspire both students and general readers. |
From inside the book
Page xiii
... geometrical proof of the Merton rule• 305 Incoherent radiation from two points of a luminous body • 315 12.10 Rays issuing from the end points of the visible object mixing within the eye • 316 12.11 The visual cone and the eye in ...
... geometrical proof of the Merton rule• 305 Incoherent radiation from two points of a luminous body • 315 12.10 Rays issuing from the end points of the visible object mixing within the eye • 316 12.11 The visual cone and the eye in ...
Page 2
... geometrical optics, field biology or natural history, and certain branches of medicine are excellent examples. This is not to deny significant differences—in motivation, instrumenta- tion, institutional support, methodological ...
... geometrical optics, field biology or natural history, and certain branches of medicine are excellent examples. This is not to deny significant differences—in motivation, instrumenta- tion, institutional support, methodological ...
Page 13
... geometrical knowledge appears to have been oriented toward practical problems, including those of surveyors and builders. Egyptians were able to calculate the areas of simple plane figures, such as the triangle and the rectangle, and ...
... geometrical knowledge appears to have been oriented toward practical problems, including those of surveyors and builders. Egyptians were able to calculate the areas of simple plane figures, such as the triangle and the rectangle, and ...
Page 37
... geometrical properties) may serve to direct the soul toward nobler objects in the realm of forms. Plato used this argument as justification for the pursuit of astronomy. Third, Plato argued (in his theory of reminiscence) that sense ...
... geometrical properties) may serve to direct the soul toward nobler objects in the realm of forms. Plato used this argument as justification for the pursuit of astronomy. Third, Plato argued (in his theory of reminiscence) that sense ...
Page 39
... outside. Besides being a rational craftsman, the Demiurge is a mathematician, for he constructed the cosmos on geometrical principles. Plato's account borrowed the four roots or elements of Empedocles : earth , The Greeks and the Cosmos 39.
... outside. Besides being a rational craftsman, the Demiurge is a mathematician, for he constructed the cosmos on geometrical principles. Plato's account borrowed the four roots or elements of Empedocles : earth , The Greeks and the Cosmos 39.
Contents
1 | |
21 | |
3 Aristotles Philosophy of Nature | 45 |
4 Hellenistic Natural Philosophy | 67 |
5 The Mathematical Sciences in Antiquity | 82 |
6 Greek and Roman Medicine | 111 |
7 Roman and Early Medieval Science | 132 |
8 Islamic Science | 163 |
10 The Recovery and Assimilation of Greekand Islamic Science | 225 |
11 The Medieval Cosmos | 254 |
12 The Physics of the Sublunar Region | 286 |
13 Medieval Medicine and Natural History | 321 |
14 The Legacy of Ancient and Medieval Science | 357 |
Notes | 369 |
Bibliography | 413 |
Index | 463 |
Other editions - View all
The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific ..., 1450. osa David C. Lindberg No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
A. I. Sabra Abbasid achievement Albert Almagest anatomical ancient Arabic argued Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle’s arts astrology astronomy atoms Averroes Avicenna Babylonian body Byzantine Cambridge University Press Carolingian celestial sphere chap Christian Clagett classical commentary cosmology cosmos culture David developed divine Early Greek early medieval earth elements Empire Erasistratus example existence G. E. R. Lloyd Galen geometrical Greek Science healing heavens Hellenistic Hippocratic History of Science human Ibn al-Haytham important influence intellectual Islamic John knowledge Latin learning Lindberg Lloyd mathematical Medicine Medieval Science Middle Ages modern motion mover moving natural philosophy Nicole Oresme object observation optics Oresme Oxford Paris physical physician Pierre Duhem planetary planets Plato pneuma practice problem Ptolemy Ptolemy's question Renaissance Roger Bacon Roman scholars schools soul sources Stoic Studies teaching texts theology things thirteenth century tion tradition trans translation treatises twelfth century vols Western