The social and economic roots of the scientific revolution: texts by Boris Hessen and Henryk Grossmann

The volume collects classics of Marxist historiography of science, including a new translation of Boris Hessen’s ‘The Social and Economic Roots of Newton’sPrincipia’ (1931), Henryk Grossmann’s ‘The Social Foundation of Mechanistic Philosophy and Manufacture’ (1935) and his Descartes’ New Ideal of Science. Universal Science vs. Science of an Elite, published here for the first time. These three papers, along with two very short pieces, present the classical Marxist analysis of the relation of science and technology. In a detailed introductory essay the editors analyze the main arguments of these authors. They show that Hessen and Grossmann never attempted to explain the rise of modern scienceby the utilitarian motives of the scientists. On the contrary, they argue notthat science developed in order to improve technology but rather by means of the study of technology. Marshalling a wealth of historical evidence, Hessen and Grossmann argue that technology served as the laboratory of scientific mechanics. Assembles the classics of Marxist historiography of Science First publication of a book by Grossman; New and reliable translation of Hessen Provides an introduction in depth to their theories Outlines the historical context of these theories and their biased anti-Marxist reception INDICE: 1. Historical and systematic introduction by the editors. 2. BorisHessen, ‘The Social and Economic Roots of Newton’s Mechanics’ 3. Henryk Grossmann, ‘The Social Foundation of Mechanistic Philosophy and Manufacture’ 4. Henryk Grossmann: Descartes New Ideal of Science. Universal Science vs. Science of an Elite. 5. Henryk Grossmann, book review (1938) and a letter to Max Horkheimer (1935). 6. A short biography of Henryk Grossmann (by Rick Kuhn, Canberra). 7. Hessen in lieu of biography.

• ISBN: 978-1-4020-9603-7
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Desconocida
• Páginas: 400
• Fecha Publicación: 01/04/2009
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés