History of Science

Science makes the modern world go round, driving the economy, shaping politics, and influencing the food we eat, the films we watch, and the authoritites we trust. Although we celebrate its eureka moments and are surrounded by its triumphs, science’s past is littered with disagreements, doubts, and misfires, while new developments are increasingly mired in controversy. In History of Science: A Beginner’s Guide, Sean Johnston weaves together intellectual history, philosophy, and social studies to offer a unique appraisal of the nature of this evolving discipline. Beginning with the phenomena faced by our earliest ancestors, right up to debates surrounding climate change predictions, the rise of commercial science, and the ethics of biotechnology, Johnston demonstrates that science is a continually evolving activity that both influences and is influenced by its cultural context. Based on its past, where might it lead us in the twenty-first century?