The Construction of Modern Science: Mechanisms and Mechanics

by Richard S. Westfall

This introduction to the history of science in the seventeenth century examines the so-called 'scientific revolution' in terms of the interplay between two major themes. The Platonic-Pythagorean tradition looked on nature in geometric terms with the conviction that the cosmos was constructed according to the principles of mathematical order, while the mechanical philosophy conceived of nature as a huge machine and sought to explain the hidden mechanisms behind phenomena. Pursuing different goals, these two movements of thought tended to conflict with each other, and more than the obviously mathematical sciences were affected - the influence spread as far as chemistry and the life sciences. As this book demonstrates, the full fruition of the scientific revolution required a resolution of the tension between the two dominant trends.

Genres: Science, History Of Science, Nonfiction, History, Academic

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Richard S. Westfall was an American academic, biographer and historian of science. He is best known for his biography of Isaac Newton and his work on the scientific revolution of the 17th century.

Reviews

[Mohammad Ali Shamekhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

من هم به دلایل فنی و هم برای مطالعه ی عام سراغ این کتاب رفتم. وستفال در آغاز متذکر این مطلب می شه که این کتاب برای تدریس به دانشجویان لیسانس و آشنایی آنها با فضای تحولات علمی قرن هفدهم تألیف شده. به تبع این ایده نباید اصلا انتظار ارجاعات و جزئیات فلسفی رو داشت - در واقع کتاب اصلا ارجاعی نداره

اما علی رغم این هدف محدود، وستفال کتابی تألیف کرده راهگشا - برای کسانی که می خوان بدونن داستان چیه. همچنین این کتاب برای خواننده ی پیگیر اشاراتی داره به اینکه چه موضوعات، افرادی و رساله هایی رو باید برای مطالعات جدی تر لحاظ کنه - این موضوع خصوصا در مورد کتابنامه ی پایان کتاب صادقه. خود من از نظر فنی دنبال مطالب مربوط به دکارت، لایبنیتس و نیوتن بودم اما بعد خوندن بخش های مربوط تازه دوزاریم افتاد که نسبت به تأثیر هویگنس کلا غافل بوده ام

عیبی هم داره کتاب و اون روشن نبودن جزئیات مباحث و آزمایش های علمیه. در بسیاری موارد وقتی وستفال به آزمایش ها و جزئیات کارهای علمی می پردازه منِ خواننده ی عام - به معنای ناآشنا به جزئیات فیزیک، مگر خاطرات دبیرستان - گیج می زنم و متوجه نمی شم. مثلا بخش هویگنس برای من مهم بود اما نمی تونستم ازش سردربیارم. پس اگر می خواید جزئیات پیگیری کنید کتاب به دلیل اختصارش اذیتتون می کنه

اما در مورد ترجمه. جمع شدن اسم آذرنگ و رضایی از نظر روانی نویدبخش یه ترجمه ی خوبه. اما فی الواقع نمی شه ترجمه رو ترجمه ی دلچسبی دونست. نچسبی عام ترجمه، به زبان فارسی نه چندان روان متن برمیگرده (که در مواردی ابهام زا هم هست) - البته متن فارسی اصلا بد نیست و کاملا معقوله اما خوب هم نیست. سوای این مطلبِ تا حدی سلیقه ای، در موارد معدودی اشتباه در ترجمه یا در موارد معدودتر اشتباه در ترجمه ی اصطلاحات وجود داره. عیب فنی کار هم اینه که مترجمان از آوردن پاورقی انگلیسی (یا لاتین و ...) بسیاری اصطلاحات و اسامی سر باز زدند - خصوصا اگر دنبال یه اصطلاح خاص در متن باشید متوجه این مطلب می شین (مثلا من در قبال اصطلاح "ایمپتوس" این سردرگمی رو داشتم). خلاصه اینکه اگه کار جدی ای با کتاب دارید - که البته صرفا برای آغاز خوبه - متن انگلیسی کنار دستتون باشه ضرر نمی کنید. البته باز هم می گم که مشکلات ترجمه ی فارسی اصلا زیاد نیست

[Mark Bowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The History of Science Series was an attempt to disseminate information about the History of Science for a diverse, unspe¬cialized audience. The intent of each book in the series was to present a condensed analysis of a particular topic or period in the history of Western science. Richard S. Westfall's book, The Construction of Modern Science: Mechanisms and Mechanics contrib¬uted to the series with its discussion of the seventeenth-century scientific revolution. This period was influenced by two major themes; The first was the Platonic-Pythagorean tradition which viewed nature in geometric terms and the cosmos as mathematical order, and the second theme was the mechanical philosophy which saw nature as a machine and used mechanisms in the explanation of phenomena. The intent of this book was to examine the influence of these two themes on the beginnings of modern science in the seventeenth century.
The book was structured with each subdivision of science, including chemistry, biology, mechanics, and dynamics, receiving a separate discussion on how it was influenced by the mechanical philosophy. This philosophy provided the guidelines for scientif¬ic investigation by establishing the need for a mechanical expla¬nation which consistently interfered with the Pythagoreans and their mathematical description of nature. A chapter was also devoted to the study of the rise of the scientific society and the importance of the new instrumentation and use of the experi¬mental method. The book offered no conclusion, but ended with the Newtonian synthesis of the Galileo's mathematics and Descartes' mechanical philosophy.
Reviews of Westfall's book were positive. Library Journal (Vol. 97, Mar 74, p. 886) said it that it was one of the best introductions to seventeenth century science. Science Books and Films (Vol. 7, Mar 72, p. 290) called the book the "most readable and unified account" of the scientific greats of the period. The English Historical Review (Vol. 94, Jul 79, p. 638) said West¬fall's effort had yet to be exceeded as of 1979. But, this review felt that the book was oversimplified and that no discussion was given to the most important problem of how these new ideas were mainstreamed into society.
In my opinion the book accomplished what the series prom¬ised, and met the requirements of its own intent. Its structure was successfully balanced between anachronistic comparisons of today and diachronic descriptions of the past. Westfall clearly explained his intent in the introduction and followed it through to the end. He focused on the major individuals of the period while not inundating the reader with facts and names. It seemed to me that this was the first book, which we have read, that was not trying to prove to the reader how great the science of its period was. With the rise of the experimental method and the scientific societies, science was taken to a new level of exist¬ence which seemed to be beyond the need for justification.
I was surprised with the amount of influence Descartes had on the scientific revolution. Even the cover of the book dis¬played a diagram of his Vortical theory. I had previously thought of him as merely a philosopher, yet every chapter contained Descartes' explanation about the topic in question from chemistry to biology. In the end it was Newton's ultimate synthesis of De¬scartes and Galileo which carried the seventeenth century to the point of revolution. Perhaps, because of this influence on all aspects of the scientific revolution, Westfall chose Descartes' diagram to adorn the front cover of the book in silent affirma¬tion of his significance.
I also found it interesting that the universities were actually the opponents of the new intellectual activity. It was understandable in light of the reluctance to give up Aristotelian doctrines and the still strong connections with Christianity and the church. Yet, it was interesting that the emerging scientific societies were the institutions that were responsible for the propagation of scientific knowledge.
Previously, in this course, I had thought that the Greeks were the first scientists; but now, I fully believe that science, in the modern sense, did not begin until the seventeenth century. It was at this time that science finally became established and received widespread recognition as, for example, the Royal Socie¬ty accepting all interested armatures in the hopes of advancing science. Also, the experimental method was finally understood with the advent of the controlled experiment and the invention of instrumentation. It was the combination of these aspects of culture (which the Greeks did not have) and the progressive thinking of Descartes, Galileo, and Newton that ushered in the foundations of modern science.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book with a lot of good information, but it suffered from being too short. The explanations of the experiments involved, often essential ones, were cursory or confusing. It was often difficult to imagine what exactly the author meant by his descriptions of the experiments.

On the other hand, it's a quick read and there was plenty of new information to digest, so I'm not sorry to have read it. Clearly more of a supplementary book than a thorough treatment of 17th century science.

[Ergi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cevirisi guzel yapilabilseymis savaslar ve ekonomi ile dolu olan tarih kitaplarindan, dunya tarihine yon veren gercek degerleri iceren bir eser gibi okunabilirmis. Fakat dikkati dagitan cumle yapilari ve anlasilmayan grafik aciklamalariyla kitabin ozu golgede kalmis. Yine de bize suanda cok dogal gorunen doga kanunlarini kesfetmek icin harcanan cabalar cok etkileyici. Beni en cok etkileyen cumle, yazarin da belirttigi gibi "bilim dunyasinin gelisimi, insanlarin dusunce dunyalarinin gelisimi ile direkt baglantilidir" oldu. Kendi hayatimiz da oyle degil mi? Farkli dusunmeye basladigimiz anda hayatimizin yonu olumlu/olumsuz degisiveriyor. Kitabin icerigi ile ilgili olarak soyleyebilecegim tek sey, benzer konularda calismalar yapmis ve eserler vermis islam toplumlarindaki bilim adamlarinin birikimlerinden ve dusuncelerinden hic soz edilmemis olmasi. Konu her ne kadar 17. yuzyil Avrupasi olsa da, o ana kadar olan birikimlerden bahsederken tip kimya astronomi ve felsefe alanlarinda ozellikle Endulus'un yok sayilmamasi gerekirdi.
"Insanin amaci eylemdir. bilginin amaci da eylem icin yarar saglamasidir." Sanirim cagimizda yaptigimiz en buyuk hata bu fikre zit yasamamiz. Bir de bilim felsefesinin tekrar eski gunlerine donecegine inananlardanim. :)

[Marko Beljac · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best short account of the rise and fall of the mechanical philosophy during the early modern scientific revolution. Especially interesting was the discussion of how the mechanical philosophy became a degenerative research programme - that is, a break on the progress of the physical sciences. That said, I think Westfall's conclusion on Newton could be stronger still. Newton didn't so much radically reform the mechanical philosophy as he transcended it entirely. Westfall's point about the epistemological differences between the mechanists and Newton - the former holding that our knowledge of the world can be based on a rational foundation, whereas the latter emphasised the inherent mystery of nature so thus our ignorance - was also quite good. Notice that this epistemological point does not sit easily with Westfall's ontological contention - that Newton was a reformed mechanist - I referred to above.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

muy lindo y entretenido. algunas cosas medio difusas.

[David Norcross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for class

Good book for understanding the development of science in the early modern period.

[R Arnaud · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read that book to help me prepare a Physics class I was teaching. For this purpose, the first chapter and the last three chapter were the most important. The chapters narrated the 'construction' of fundamental physics discovery like Galileo's measurement of gravity acceleration, Kepler's laws, Huygens' understanding of the pendulum and collision and finally some of Newton's achievements (explaining Kepler's law and the acceleration of gravity). The central chapters, however, treat mostly of the medieval approach to chemistry and biology, focusing on a mechanical explanation of all things. This was all very interesting but rather long. I did get lost in the names of natural philosophers of the middle age and renaissance with their erroneous discoveries; cute in the big picture but full of complicated twists of logic in the details.

[Kerem Cankocak · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bilimsel devrim, doğa konusundaki düşünce kategorilerinin yeniden yapılanmasından öte bir şeydi. Bilimsel araştırma etkinliklerinde gittikçe artan sayıda kişinin yer almasını ve modern yaşamda gittikçe daha etkin rol oynayan yeni bir teoriler kümesinin yayılmasını da ifade eden toplumsal bir olguydu” Richard S. Westfall.

Ağırlıklı olarak 17. yüzyıl bilim tarihine yoğunlaşan bu kitabın ana tezi, modern bilimin oluşmasındaki temel düşüncelerin, kendi iç mantıkları uyarınca geliştikleridir.
Westfall’in deyimiyle bu kitap, bilimsel devrim tarihinde ağırlık merkezinin, düşünce tarihi olduğuna dair inancın bir ifadesidir.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really interesting for putting some of the big names of the scientific revolution into a social and historical context. At times it delved farther than I could follow into math and formalae, however, it was a fun read.

[Mz · Rating 3 out of 5]

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