Name: Science and technology in world history
ISBN: 9780801883606

Science and technology in world history

In modern industrial society, the tie between science and technology seems clear, even inevitable. But historically, as James E. McClellan III and Harold Dorn remind us, the connection has been far less apparent. For much of human history, technology depended more on the innovation of skilled artisans than it did on the speculation of scientists. Technology as "applied science," the authors argue, emerged relatively recently, as industry and governments began funding scientific research that would lead directly to new or improved technologies. In Science and Technology in World History, McClellan and Dorn offer an introduction to this changing relationship. McClellan and Dorn review the historical record beginning with the thinking and tool making of prehistoric humans. Neolithic people, for example, developed metallurgy of a sort, using naturally occurring raw copper, and kept systematic records of the moon's phases. Neolithic craftsmen possessed practical knowledge of the behavior of clay, fire, and other elements of their environment, but though they may have had explanations for the phenomena of their crafts, they toiled without any systematic science of materials or the self-conscious application of theory to practice. McClellan and Dorn identify two great scientific traditions: the useful sciences, patronized by the state from the dawn of civilization, and scientific theorizing, initiated by the ancient Greeks.

What Hacker News says

porpoiselyDec 2018

Grounding science in mathematical models is the ultimate goal. But usually, technological advancement and discoveries precede scientific discovery and modeling.

We think science that comes first and from science we derive technology. But it is usually the other way around. Technology comes first and from technology, we derive science and even mathematics.

A canonical example is the telescope. It's invention led to newtonian physics and calculus. Another is the microscope, which led to much of modern biology.

If anyone is interested in the history of technology and science, I recommend

"Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction" by McLellan and Dorn

Also, if you have netflix, they have a great documentary called AlphaGo. I don't play Go, but I was able to appreciate the documentary. If play chess like I do, there are lots of youtube videos on the AlphaZero's games against stockfish.

If DeepMind's system is as general as claimed and as competent in other fields as it was in Go and Chess, I think it's fair to say that it could give us insights into current and new science/mathematics.

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IdontredditJun 2016

"Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction" (McClellan, Dorn) lays out an interest overview of how technology led science throughout world history.

We naively think that science leads technology, but for much of history, it was technology that led science/understanding. The telescope led astronomy and the microscope led germ biology.

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ptnJan 2010

Hi guys,

I have started to read about how technology impacts the economy of a society. Currently, I'm with "Science and Technology in World History", by McClellan and Dorn.

Would you recommend it? Also, what other books have you read on the topic?

Thanks a lot.

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