|
|
|
A Short History of Science
|
(Buch) |
Dieser Artikel gilt, aufgrund seiner Grösse, beim Versand als 3 Artikel!
| Inhalt: |
|
A Short History of Science A OF SCIENCE BY W. TTODGWICK REVISED BY R. P. BICELOW THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK The history of science is the real history of mankind. Du BOIS-REYMOND. Those who try to understand the deeper meaning of science itself and its connections with other subjects of human thought and activity must know something of the story of its development. DAMPIER. Preface The present book, while in part a revision of Sedgwick and Tylers Short History of Science Macmillan, 1917, is to a great extent new. Like the earlier work, it is the outgrowth of a course of lectures given for a number of years to undergradu ates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Doctor Sedgwick having died some years after the publica tion of the first edition, the surviving author undertook the preparation of a revised edition and invited R. P. Bigelow, who had taken part in the lecture course, to share the editorial responsibility in cooperation with colleagues versed in other fields. The intervening years have heightened the apprecia tion of the enormous difficulty of the undertaking. On the other hand, the increased interest in the subject, as exemplified in college orientation courses, and the absence of a textbook of similar scope and aim have seemed to justify a second edi tion. The editors have deliberately abstained from any attempt to bring the history up to date in such matters as the new mathematical physics and the advances in the chemical and biological sciences characteristic of the twentieth century, since the available literature on these topics is abundant, and it may be doubted if they are not still too close to our genera tion for a just historical perspective. In thisedition, however, the attempt is made to trace briefly the history of the foundations upon which recent, as well as earlier, advances were based to correlate the steps of progress with the spirit of the time and to increase the empha sis on the evolution of scientific methods. It is hoped thus to give an impression of continuity in the history of science. In comparison with the original volume, the space devoted here to mathematical science has been considerably reduced viii PREFACE by the omission of proofs and relatively technical material, as well as of quotations. This has made possible more adequate treatment of certain other fields. At the same time it will be evident that no attempt at completeness is intended. The selection aims to be typical, and the large space devoted to mathematics and related subjects corresponds, not merely with the authors personal interests, but with the more ex tended development of these ancient themes. The extent to which quotations from various authors are included is due to the desire to bring some of the general literature of the subject to the attention of students having insufficient time for wide reading. A serious difficulty arose from the diverse spelling of many proper names. Excepting Greek names, it was decided to follow, as a rule, the usage in Sar tons indispensable Introduc tion to the History of Science, so far as it goes. While the Greek form is much to be preferred, the Latin form of Greek names was retained in order to avoid a large number of changes in the text, and to avoid inconsistencies with quoted passages, in which the Latin form is used almost invariably. The present edition has been prepared with the invaluable assistance ofvarious persons competent in their respective fields. Substantial contributions have been made by Profes sors W. T. Hall and H. W. Shimer, both of the Institute of Technology. R. P. Bigelow in dealing with non-mathematical subjects has rewritten entirely or in part several chapters. Especial credit is due Professor Henry Crew for numerous amendments proposed after reading the first edition and to Professor Dirk J. Struik, who read the completed manuscript and made suggestions that add greatly to the value of the book... |
|
i.d.R. innert 7-14 Tagen versandfertig
Newsfeed | 
Facebook | 
Twitter
