Scientific Revolution: A Critical Synthesis

Author: Xia Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Since Koyré and Butterfield, the study of the scientific revolution has become a classic field in the history of science. Although there have been diverse views on the nature, scope, methods, and pathways of the scientific revolution in explaining it, over the years, few historians of science have fundamentally denied that a scientific revolution or profound scientific change occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, in this book, the author opens with the provocative statement, "There was never a single, definitive scientific revolution." It is precisely this unconventional, paradoxical declaration that expresses the author's perspective on the scientific revolution, the history of science, and general historical research. As a strong proponent of the strong program in the sociology of scientific knowledge, the author fundamentally rejects the notion of a scientific revolution. The purpose of writing this book is less about systematically describing what actually happened under the premise that the scientific revolution does not exist—providing an alternative, more historically grounded description of the scientific revolution interpretation of the history of science school—and more about dismantling traditional explanations of the scientific revolution, traditional views on the history of science, and historical perspectives. Since its publication, the book has been reprinted multiple times in just a few years and has been translated into 14 languages and published worldwide. As a book aimed at a general readership, it simplifies the elaborate footnotes commonly used in academic monographs, making the text clear and accessible, complemented by numerous illustrations. It is particularly suitable as a textbook for ordinary students and general reading material.