Science and Society in Restoration England

by Michael Cyril William Hunter

Although much has been written on the intellectual achievements of the age of Newton, Boyle and Hooke, this book provided the first systematic assessment of the social relations of Restoration science when it was published in 1981. On the basis of a detailed analysis of the early history of the Royal Society, Professor Hunter examines the key issues concerning the role of science in late seventeenth-century England. The nature of the scientific community, the links between science and technology and science's political affiliations are all explored, while much light is cast on contemporary priorities in religion and learning through a reconsideration of attacks on science. At once wide-ranging and authoritative, this remains a work that no one concerned with science and its social integration in this formative period can afford to ignore.

Genres: History Of Science

246 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 1981

Reviews

[Mark Bowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A. Introduction
1. Chronology: Stuart period 1660-1700
2. A great deal of Restoration optimism toward national prosperity and scientific knowledge (trade, science, & economics would improve together)
3. Yet, science contributed little to economic development (little to mercantile)
4. Thesis: Show how Restoration science related to contemporary society in terms of support & apathy, facilities & impediments, motivation & reservation. Science was not dominant in the intellectual realm, offered little support to technology. Just because a scientific revolution occurred does not mean a scientific ideology existed in society.
B. Restoration Science: Its Character and Origins
1. Stemmed from Bacon & induction. He replaced scholasticism with observation and experiment
2. Boyle: corpuscular theory of matter, chemistry reformed along mechanistic lines
3. Hooke: nature of life, plant growth
4. William Harvey: physiology & embryology
5. Newton: geometrical account of the heavens
C. Significance of the Royal Society
1. Founded during Charles II Restoration (1660), charter (1662)
2. Importance has been overemphasized because today it is the countries foremost institution
3. Early society was not a success even though science was.
a) It was institutionally weak
b) It remained inferior to the personal facilities of the members
4. Achievements: promoted correspondence, published Philosophical Transactions, it was a symbolic collection of distinguished members
a) Devoted to experimental philosophy
b) Accumulated a library of scientific books, collection of microscopes.
D. The Scientific Community (Social dimension of Restoration science)
1. Scientists came from landed families, ex. Aristocrats because more opportunities were open to them
2. Some used science as self-help. Ex. Flamsteed practiced science to make up for ill health
3. Attitude was the most important factor in making a scientist. The commitment to a new philosophy transcended all classes.
a) Lesser men were responsible for collecting data and suggesting new theories
b) Virtuosi were the true social extension of the science of the age
E. Utility and its Problems: The uses and problems of science
1. Restoration science (because of Bacon) was obsessed with the usefulness of their science, utility
2. Science partly concerned itself with improving agriculture and industrial practices
3. Yet, the younger generation was not interested in combining science & tech
a) Science became more elitist
b) Scientists wanted to keep useful knowledge secret
c) The theoretical was preferred over the practical
F. Politics and Reform
1. Was the new science associated with one religious or political ideology?
a) Merton claimed that Puritanism was conducive to the rise of science and that Puritanism defined all Protestantism
2. The key is to understand the heterogeneity of the political and religious affiliation
3. Ex. Latitudinarian
G. Science, Learning and the Universities
1. Friction and continuity with the university
2. How the universities helped
a) Most scientists had academic backgrounds
b) Many pursued academic careers
3. How the universities hurt
a) Science supported a new philosophy that was not taught in the academic institution
b) Thomas Barlow (Oxford) and Obadiah Walker (University College) disbelieved in the importance of science
4. By the end of the 17th a compromise was worked out. Neither side dominated.
H. Atheism and Orthodoxy
1. The fear was that science would begin to promote atheism
2. This was caused by the upheaval of the Puritan revolution
3. Science was vulnerable because it espoused simple religion. Ex. Newton wanted a simply cosmology to show God's active role
4. Mainly there was a heterodoxy with people arranging themselves around a fear of atheism

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy book to read, but I am glad that I stuck with it. The structure of the chapters seemed to me to take something simple that people say about the scientific revolution and to show that it wasn't so simple. The central theme seemed to be that the Royal Society is famed for many things, but much of that was its ambitions and rhetoric. Hunter's knowledge is enormous and I found his writing clear. So, if you're not looking for a simple story, you might enjoy this book. I did.