Styles of Knowing: A New History of Science from Ancient Times to the Present

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history of science “A very readable account of the history of scientific knowledge; it deserves a much wider audience than those who are able to understand the Dutch language.” —Isis “Kwa has written not only a fine introduction to the history of science from antiquity to the twenty-first century, but he has used the concept of ‘style’ to illuminate various modes of scientific rationality and current threats to freedom of inquiry. A most impressive achievement.” —Harold J. Cook, Brown University Now available in English, Styles of Knowing explores the development of various scientific reasoning processes in cultural-historical context. Influenced by historian Alistair Crombie’s Styles of Scientific Thinking in the European Tradition, Chunglin Kwa organizes his book according to six distinct styles: deductive, experimental, hypothetical-analogical, taxonomic,statistical,andevolutionary.Eachchapterexplainsthehistorical applications of each style’s unique criterion for good science. Kwa also shows how styles have influenced each other and transformed over time. In a chapter written especially for American audiences, Kwa examines how changes in engineering and technology during the twentieth century affected the balance among the various styles of science. Based on extensive research in Greek and Latin primary sources and numerous modern secondary sources, Kwa demonstrates the heterogeneous nature of scientific discovery. This accessible and innovative introduction to scientific change provides a foundational history for the classroom, historians, and nonspecialists. Chunglin Kwa is lecturer in science and technology studies at the University of Amsterdam. He teaches courses in history of science, philosophy of science, and sustainable development in relation to the environmental sciences. He served as editor of EASST Review from 1991 to 2006. University of Pittsburgh Press www.upress.pitt.edu Cover art: Artistically enhanced image of real particle tracks © Copyright CERN. Cover design: Ann Walston & Joel W. Coggins ISBN 13: 978-0-8229-6151-2 ISBN 10: 0-8229-6151-2 ...