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The World as We Know It: From Natural Philosophy to Modern Science
From the award-winning author of Revolutionizing the Sciences, a monumental historical account of how of we came to see the world through the lens of science
Science is the basis of our assumptions about ourselves and our world, from ideas about our evolutionary past to our conceptions of the vast expanses of space and the smallest particles of matter. In this panoramic book, acclaimed historian of science Peter Dear uncovers the roots of such beliefs, revealing how they constitute a natural philosophy that has been developed and refined over the course of centuries—and how the world as we have come to know it was by no means inevitable.
In a sweeping, multifaceted narrative, Dear describes some of the most breathtaking accomplishments in the advance of human knowledge, such as Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation, Carl Linnaeus’s taxonomy, Antoine Lavoisier’s new chemistry, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity. Challenging the notion that science is only about “making discoveries,” he shows how our world has been formed by people, institutions, and cultural assumptions, giving rise to disciplines ranging from biology and astrophysics to electromagnetism and the social sciences.
Taking readers from the early eighteenth century to today, The World as We Know It reveals how our ideas about our place in the universe were bequeathed to us by individuals, cultures, and a curiosity that knows no bounds.
Science is the basis of our assumptions about ourselves and our world, from ideas about our evolutionary past to our conceptions of the vast expanses of space and the smallest particles of matter. In this panoramic book, acclaimed historian of science Peter Dear uncovers the roots of such beliefs, revealing how they constitute a natural philosophy that has been developed and refined over the course of centuries—and how the world as we have come to know it was by no means inevitable.
In a sweeping, multifaceted narrative, Dear describes some of the most breathtaking accomplishments in the advance of human knowledge, such as Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation, Carl Linnaeus’s taxonomy, Antoine Lavoisier’s new chemistry, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity. Challenging the notion that science is only about “making discoveries,” he shows how our world has been formed by people, institutions, and cultural assumptions, giving rise to disciplines ranging from biology and astrophysics to electromagnetism and the social sciences.
Taking readers from the early eighteenth century to today, The World as We Know It reveals how our ideas about our place in the universe were bequeathed to us by individuals, cultures, and a curiosity that knows no bounds.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 13, 2026
History professor Peter Dear gives us a detailed and reasoned coverage of the development of science as a concept from its origins as natural philosophy, covering the years from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. inclusive If that sounds a little dry, frankly, it is. But if you don't mind a very academic approach, it is certainly interesting.
Obviously a major theme running through is the move from largely gentleman natural philosophers (with both implications of that word 'gentleman') to professional academic scientists. What started with clubs for relatively well off men with an interest, when universities did not stray far beyond what was included in mathematics (astronomy, for instance), would become a very different beast.
The main scientific subjects that Dear covers are physics and biology - we get, for instance, a lot on the gradual move away from a purely mechanical views of physics - the reason Newton's 'action at a distance' gravity caused such concerns - and on the development of taxonomy and Darwin's work in biology. However, chemistry does get a look in, as does the impact of probability theory. Perhaps most surprising to the non-historian is the importance of the interaction between natural philosophy and theology, and the related distinction between explaining and understanding. As Dear puts it 'a desire to create a picture of what the world is really like - the world as God knows it - rather than simply having instrumental or operational control over phenomena.' (I'm slightly surprised that Kant only comes into the book for his astronomical ideas rather than his 'Ding an sich'.)
I would not really class this as popular science - it's not particularly enjoyable to read, but rather a book that is worth making the effort to get through if you have a particular interest in the subject of how the concept of science has emerged from and evolved from natural philosophy. Although it covers a fair number of scientific developments, it is far more about what is being done and for what reason than it is about what is discovered.
Obviously a major theme running through is the move from largely gentleman natural philosophers (with both implications of that word 'gentleman') to professional academic scientists. What started with clubs for relatively well off men with an interest, when universities did not stray far beyond what was included in mathematics (astronomy, for instance), would become a very different beast.
The main scientific subjects that Dear covers are physics and biology - we get, for instance, a lot on the gradual move away from a purely mechanical views of physics - the reason Newton's 'action at a distance' gravity caused such concerns - and on the development of taxonomy and Darwin's work in biology. However, chemistry does get a look in, as does the impact of probability theory. Perhaps most surprising to the non-historian is the importance of the interaction between natural philosophy and theology, and the related distinction between explaining and understanding. As Dear puts it 'a desire to create a picture of what the world is really like - the world as God knows it - rather than simply having instrumental or operational control over phenomena.' (I'm slightly surprised that Kant only comes into the book for his astronomical ideas rather than his 'Ding an sich'.)
I would not really class this as popular science - it's not particularly enjoyable to read, but rather a book that is worth making the effort to get through if you have a particular interest in the subject of how the concept of science has emerged from and evolved from natural philosophy. Although it covers a fair number of scientific developments, it is far more about what is being done and for what reason than it is about what is discovered.
July 28, 2026
One of the first things people should note when purchasing or choosing to read nonfiction is to check who is publishing the book. Don't get me wrong, university presses publish some nonfiction intended for the general public, but those are usually marketed as such. With that in mind, the Princeton University Press is probably going to put out a fairly dense tome and so they have.
I can see a bit how this one might lull the general nonfiction reader into a false sense of security however. The first three chapters breeze by with the pace and almost "fun fact" style of your standard popular nonfiction book. But soon we're speaking in detail about the gold leaf electroscope and other dense topics that are difficult to follow in prose. Other sections, like the beginnings of our understanding of biology and evolution are much easier to follow as they rely less heavily on math and experimentation that can be difficult for the lay person (such as myself) to intuitively imagine or understand.
For me, one of the more interesting points was just how deep into the 20th century we can trace the influence of natural philosophy on modern science. If, as the author puts it, science is less about being "true" than about being "honest," then there is an argument to be made that Einstein himself was less interested in science than proving his own philosophy on the nature of the universe correct.
Should you read this book? If you're a casual nonfiction reader I would say no. Not unless you are prepared for a seriously dense book. Dear doesn't hold your hand the way popular science or history books - he is writing for an audience that has sufficient background in science that he needs to do little to no scaffolding of knowledge. If you're an academic in the field, it is a good book. It's always fun to learn about the traditions in which your chosen discipline grew up in and provides contexts and insights into how your predecessors thought about science in general.
I can see a bit how this one might lull the general nonfiction reader into a false sense of security however. The first three chapters breeze by with the pace and almost "fun fact" style of your standard popular nonfiction book. But soon we're speaking in detail about the gold leaf electroscope and other dense topics that are difficult to follow in prose. Other sections, like the beginnings of our understanding of biology and evolution are much easier to follow as they rely less heavily on math and experimentation that can be difficult for the lay person (such as myself) to intuitively imagine or understand.
For me, one of the more interesting points was just how deep into the 20th century we can trace the influence of natural philosophy on modern science. If, as the author puts it, science is less about being "true" than about being "honest," then there is an argument to be made that Einstein himself was less interested in science than proving his own philosophy on the nature of the universe correct.
Should you read this book? If you're a casual nonfiction reader I would say no. Not unless you are prepared for a seriously dense book. Dear doesn't hold your hand the way popular science or history books - he is writing for an audience that has sufficient background in science that he needs to do little to no scaffolding of knowledge. If you're an academic in the field, it is a good book. It's always fun to learn about the traditions in which your chosen discipline grew up in and provides contexts and insights into how your predecessors thought about science in general.
Did Not Finish
January 4, 2026Thanks to the Highbridge Company and @Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook.
To the right audience, I think this book would be fascinating. I am not in that category.
Do you like the history of science (yes!!!) seen through the lens of its contemporary philosophical view (apparently not me!)? If so, then do I have a book for you!
To the right audience, I think this book would be fascinating. I am not in that category.
Do you like the history of science (yes!!!) seen through the lens of its contemporary philosophical view (apparently not me!)? If so, then do I have a book for you!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews