H. Floris Cohen, How Modern Science Came into the World. Four Civilizations, One 17th-Century Breakthrough (2010)

Abstract

Once upon a time 'The Scientific Revolution of the 17th century' was an innovative concept that inspired a stimulating narrative of how modern science came into the world. Half a century later, what we now know as 'the master narrative' serves rather as a strait-jacket - so often events and contexts just fail to fit in. No attempt has been made so far to replace the master narrative. H. Floris Cohen now comes up with precisely such a replacement. Key to his path-breaking analysis-cum-narrative is a vision of the Scientific Revolution as made up of six distinct yet narrowly interconnected, revo Preface -- Prologue -- Part I. Nature-Knowledge in Traditional Society -- I. Greek foundations, Chinese contrasts -- II. Greek nature-knowledge transplanted: the islamic world -- III. Greek nature-knowledge transplanted in part: medieval Europe -- IV. Greek nature-knowledge transplanted, and more: renaissance Europe -- Part II. Three revolutionary transformations -- V. The first transformation: realist-mathematical science -- VI. The second transformation: a kinetic-corpuscularian philosophy of nature -- VII. The third transformation: to find facts through experiment -- VIII. Concurrence explained -- IX. Prospects around 1640 -- Part III. Dynamics of the Revolution -- X. Achievements and limitations of realist-mathematical science -- XI. Achievements and limitations of kinetic corpuscularianism -- XII. Legitimacy in the balance -- XIII. Achievements and limitations of fact-finding experimentalism -- XIV. Nature-knowledge decompartmentalized -- XV. The fourth transformation: corpuscular motion geometrized -- XVI. The fifth transformation: the baconian brew -- XVII. Legitimacy of a new kind -- XVIII. Nature-knowledge by 1684: the achievement so far -- XIX. The sixth transformation: the newtonian synthesis -- Epilogue -- Notes on literature used -- Endnotes -- Name index -- Subject index