Science in World History

by James S. Trefil

In Science in World History, James Trefil presents a comprehensive, thematic survey of the history of science from its roots in different cultures around the world through to the present day. He explores crucial milestones in scientific development and at the same time examines the enormous social and intellectual changes they initiated.Opening with a discussion of the key elements of modern scientific enterprise, the book goes on to explore the earliest scientific activities, moving through Greece and Alexandria, science in the Muslim world, and then on to Isaac Newton, atomic theory and the major developments of the nineteenth century. After examining the most recent scientific activities across the world, the book concludes by identifying future directions for the field.Suitable for introductory courses and ideal for students new to the subject, this concise and lively study reconsiders the history of science from the perspective of world and comparative history.

Genres: History, Science, Popular Science

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2011

About the author

James S. Trefil (born 9/10/1938) is an American physicist (Ph.D. in Physics at Stanford University in 1966) and author of more than thirty books. Much of his published work focuses on science for the general audience. Dr. Trefil has previously served as Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia and he now teaches as Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University. Among Trefil's books is Are We Unique?, an argument for human uniqueness in which he questions the comparisons between human intelligence and artificial intelligence. Trefil also regularly gives presentations to judges and public officials about the intersections between science and the law.

Reviews

[Ahmad Abdul Rahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ini terlalu simple-minded dan aku boleh katakan itu tanpa sebarang bangkangan. 

Sebuah penulisan yg meriwayatkan tema2 besar sains sepanjang sejarah kemanusiaan, buku ini ditulis oleh seorang profesor fizik, bukan sejarahwan (adakah satu trend masakini untuk sejarah dunia/sains ditulis oleh saintis dan bukan sejarahwan proper?). Hal tersebut sudah cukup menyerlahkan hakikat bahawa buku ini terlalu condong untuk berbicara sejarah perkembangan dari sisi fizik, dan matematik.

Granted, biologi diberikan jumlah mukasurat yg agak signifikan dari jumlah total 152 ms tetapi itu pun hanya terhad kepada teori evolusi. Evolusi pada pendapat aku adalah curiosity yg eksklusif kepada kita manusia2 moden. Sebuah buku sejarah sepatutnya cuba untuk melampaui kekangan ruang dan masa dengan memaparkan polemik2 yg memenuhi lanskap mental generasi2 terdahulu dalam keadaan di mana pembaca kontemporari mampu berkongsi empati. Sebaliknya, di dalam buku ini (untuk biologi) terlalu sedikit ruang dikhaskan untuk perbincangan2 sebegitu: tenaga vital, struktur vs function, humoral patologi, fisiologi.

Topik sejarah kimia aku kira paling miskin dengan idea Paracelsus gagal dipanjanglebarkan dengan secukupnya. Bagaimanapun analisis silang penulis terhadap ilmu alkemi sebagai precursor kepada kimia moden perlu dipuji.

Fizik adalah topik dimana kemahiran penulis paling terserlah; beliau mampu mengalihbahasakan fizik daripada bahasa nombor dan perkiraan rumit kepada bahasa yg dekat dengan pemahaman manusia awam lewat anekdot dan analogi2 ringkas. Pun begitu, bahagian akhir di mana penulis chronicle bagaimana fizik mula diceburi oleh saintis2 dunia ketiga, menceritakan bahawa buku2 ini adalah pada asasnya sebuah survei atau himpunan fakta yg dihubungkait melalui untaian2 konseptual yg ringan; jauh sekali untuk ditabalkan sebagai sebuah buku sejarah.

[Alper Atasoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amerikalı teorik fizikçi ve popüler bilim yazarı James Trefil'in bu kitabı, bilim tarihinin ana dönüşüm noktalarını yalın bir dille fakat ayrıntılı olarak ele alıyor. Bilim tarihini "Amerika-Batı" merkezli olarak ele alsa da kendi penceresinden bakması makul karşılanabilir. Bir bilim insanı olması dolayısıyla özellikle 20. yüzyıl bilimini farklı yönleriyle ayrıntılı olarak anlatıyor; DNA'nın keşfi, CERN deneyler, genom çalışmaları, kutup araştırmaları gibi etkileri 21. yüzyıla da sarkan bilimsel gelişmeleri bilim tarihi anlatısının içine katıyor. Bu baskıda bazı çeviri ve editörlük hataları olduğunu ekleyelim. Bilim tarihi için temel eserlerden biri değil, ancak bilim tarihine ilgi duyanlar için okunabilir, zevkli bi kitap...

[Elif Sayın · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I do not have much knowledge about science and history of it, I really enjoyed it and learned so much. The language of Professor Trefil is quite clear and comprehensible.

[Mills College Library]

509 T7866 2012

[Swarup Kanti Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summery of science history and a good harbinger of future...