Visions of Science Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age edition by James Secord Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : Visions of Science Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age edition by James Secord Literature Fiction eBooks 
The early 1830s witnessed an extraordinary transformation in British political, literary, and intellectual life. New scientific disciplines begin to take shape, while new concepts of the natural world were hotly debated. James Secord, Director of the Darwin Correspondence Project, captures this unique moment of change by exploring key books, including Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology, Mary Somerville's Connexion of the Physical Sciences, and
Thomas Carlyle's satirical work, Sartor Resartus. Set in the context of electoral reform and debates about the extension of education to meet the demands of the coming age of empire and industry, Secord shows how the books were published, disseminated, admired, attacked and satirized.
Visions of Science Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age edition by James Secord Literature Fiction eBooks
This insightful volume should be of great value to students of Victorian science and those interested in the impact of mass publishing during the first half of the 19th century. The author, who has extensive experience in this area, argues that during the first third of the 19th century, there was much social, political and religious malaise in Britain. It was at this point that a series of revolutionary books on science appeared which demonstrated that things could be rationally managed as man learned more about natural processes. This was also the period of the new enhanced literacy and advanced methods of mass cheap publishing. Self-education movements were also underway. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful knowledge (founded 1826) and subscription libraries also disseminated the new scientific knowledge. As usual, during this period, many religiously-minded folks were anxious that reliance upon empirical science might undermine scripture and lead to enhanced materialilsm. The focus here is before Darwin published his "Origin" in 1859.To illustrate these themes, the author has selected seven important volumes to discuss in individual chapters. Among these, several stand out in effective chapters. For example, Charles Babbage "Reflections on the Decline of Science in England" (1830) despaired over what science could do if it were released from corrupt scientific societies, the presence of fraud, and more precise observational methods were employed . He also argued things would improve if scientists were drawn from Oxbridge graduates who had not been molded by study of the classics and theology. So, this was meant to be an "eye-opener" and really had that impact because all manner of reform was in the air (for example, the Reform Act of 1832). In John Herschel's "Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy" (1831), the author carefully explained the principles and practices of the physical sciences. If one were interested in research in this area, Herschel in effect laid out a "conduct manual"as how to proceed which also enunciated guidelines for everyday living. Herschel moreover was the inventor of the term "scientist" and had a hardy battle to get it accepted.
Since mathematics was so central to science, a most interesting chapter examines Mary Somerville's "On the Connexion ofthe Physical Sciences" (1832). The goal here, in the author's words, was to deliver "Math for the Millions." Published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, that such a substantial scientific work was written by a woman was somewhat surprising to Victorians. Once again the crucial role in Victorian scientific publishing of John Murray is evident, long before he published Darwin. Somerville avoided conflict with religion by assuming that mathematical principles were one pathway to God. For this book and other scientific achievements, Somerville College at Oxford University was named in honor.
The author also covers other important books from this period. His chapter on Charles Lyell's "Principles of Geology" (1830-33), probably the most influential book on science up until Darwin, is particularly perceptive and full of insights. Ironically, while Lyell definitely attacked the idea of transmutation of species in his book, he nonetheless later played a key role in publicizing the early Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace essays announcing the discovery of evolution by natural selection (in 1858). George Combe's "Constitution of Man" (1828), although focused on phrenology broadly raised the issue of what mental states caused human action.
The book contains some helpful extras, including a chronology, guide to further reading, extensive endnotes, and a "Bibliography of Works Published after 1900." There are also valuable figures or diagrams, as well as a color section of fascinating plates drawn from the period under study. A short epilogue nicely sums up some of the book's basic themes. A good companion volume is Bernard Lightman's "Victorian Popularizers of Science" (also reviewed on Amazon). The author is one of the best scholars in this area and his expertise and breadth of experience are evident on every page as he serves as our guide to these important scientific books.
Product details
|
Tags : Visions of Science: Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age - Kindle edition by James Secord. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Visions of Science: Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age.,ebook,James Secord,Visions of Science: Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age,OUP Oxford,Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900,Literature: history & criticism,Popular science
People also read other books :
- A Beautiful Apocalypse edition by Jordan Allen Sara Rolater Literature Fiction eBooks
- My Addiction Club Desire Book 2 edition by Cassie Ryan Romance eBooks
- Eve Diary edition by Mark Twain Literature Fiction eBooks
- Skies to Conquer A Year Inside the Air Force Academy (Audible Audio Edition) Diana Jean Schemo Donna Postel Turner Publishing Company Books
- Jake Has a Stomachache Hope Chun 9781542401753 Books
Visions of Science Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age edition by James Secord Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
A review of ‘Visions of science books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age’ by James A. Secord.
CITATION Secord, J. A. (2014). Visions of science books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age. Oxford Oxford University Press.
Reviewer Dr W. P. Palmer.
After an introduction, seven important books of the 1830s are analysed and explained in terms of the way in which they would have been understood at the time. The books were
1. Humphry Davy’s ‘Consolations in Travel’
2. Charles Babbage’s ‘Reflections on the Decline of Science in England’
3. John Herschel’s ‘Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy’
4. Mary Somerville’s ‘On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences’
5. Charles Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’
6. George Coombe’s ‘Constitution of Man’
7. Thomas Carlyle`s ‘Sartor Resartus’
The main themes are then summarised in an Epilogue, followed by useful additional information entitled chronology, further reading, abbreviations, endnotes and a bibliography of works published after 1800. There is also a valuable index.
This is a scholarly work that summarises in a single chapter each of some important early Victorian science works written by scientists with a wider than usual view of science, so religion, politics and social issues are very much within the themes of each book.
The first of the books described is Humphry Davy’s Consolations in Travel. Secord explains the themes of the book, its relation to other books, the number of copies published and its popularity and its effect on society. Each of the books chapters provides interesting information about the books described and taken together provide the reader with a useful entry into the main scientific and social ideas of the early Victorian era. A good, well-written book but probably best suited to specialists.
BILL PALMER
It was expected in one way - the book is about the way a number of people moved (slowly, most of them) from the idea that there was a discipline called "science" that wasn't the same thing as "philosophy".
The one surprise was the single woman in the book, Mary Somerville who was a mathematician.. She presented the thing called "science" as a subject based on mathematics. She was pretty clear about it, too.
This insightful volume should be of great value to students of Victorian science and those interested in the impact of mass publishing during the first half of the 19th century. The author, who has extensive experience in this area, argues that during the first third of the 19th century, there was much social, political and religious malaise in Britain. It was at this point that a series of revolutionary books on science appeared which demonstrated that things could be rationally managed as man learned more about natural processes. This was also the period of the new enhanced literacy and advanced methods of mass cheap publishing. Self-education movements were also underway. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful knowledge (founded 1826) and subscription libraries also disseminated the new scientific knowledge. As usual, during this period, many religiously-minded folks were anxious that reliance upon empirical science might undermine scripture and lead to enhanced materialilsm. The focus here is before Darwin published his "Origin" in 1859.
To illustrate these themes, the author has selected seven important volumes to discuss in individual chapters. Among these, several stand out in effective chapters. For example, Charles Babbage "Reflections on the Decline of Science in England" (1830) despaired over what science could do if it were released from corrupt scientific societies, the presence of fraud, and more precise observational methods were employed . He also argued things would improve if scientists were drawn from Oxbridge graduates who had not been molded by study of the classics and theology. So, this was meant to be an "eye-opener" and really had that impact because all manner of reform was in the air (for example, the Reform Act of 1832). In John Herschel's "Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy" (1831), the author carefully explained the principles and practices of the physical sciences. If one were interested in research in this area, Herschel in effect laid out a "conduct manual"as how to proceed which also enunciated guidelines for everyday living. Herschel moreover was the inventor of the term "scientist" and had a hardy battle to get it accepted.
Since mathematics was so central to science, a most interesting chapter examines Mary Somerville's "On the Connexion ofthe Physical Sciences" (1832). The goal here, in the author's words, was to deliver "Math for the Millions." Published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, that such a substantial scientific work was written by a woman was somewhat surprising to Victorians. Once again the crucial role in Victorian scientific publishing of John Murray is evident, long before he published Darwin. Somerville avoided conflict with religion by assuming that mathematical principles were one pathway to God. For this book and other scientific achievements, Somerville College at Oxford University was named in honor.
The author also covers other important books from this period. His chapter on Charles Lyell's "Principles of Geology" (1830-33), probably the most influential book on science up until Darwin, is particularly perceptive and full of insights. Ironically, while Lyell definitely attacked the idea of transmutation of species in his book, he nonetheless later played a key role in publicizing the early Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace essays announcing the discovery of evolution by natural selection (in 1858). George Combe's "Constitution of Man" (1828), although focused on phrenology broadly raised the issue of what mental states caused human action.
The book contains some helpful extras, including a chronology, guide to further reading, extensive endnotes, and a "Bibliography of Works Published after 1900." There are also valuable figures or diagrams, as well as a color section of fascinating plates drawn from the period under study. A short epilogue nicely sums up some of the book's basic themes. A good companion volume is Bernard Lightman's "Victorian Popularizers of Science" (also reviewed on ). The author is one of the best scholars in this area and his expertise and breadth of experience are evident on every page as he serves as our guide to these important scientific books.
0 Response to "[1AB]≫ Read Visions of Science Books and readers at the dawn of the Victorian age edition by James Secord Literature Fiction eBooks"
Post a Comment