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Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece
"There are few scholars or scientists today who write as beautifully or as interestingly as [Sarton] . . . [his] book is magnificent." — Ashley Montagu, Saturday Review
Although science did not begin in ancient Greece (millennia of work in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and other regions preceded Greek efforts) it is nevertheless true that methodic, rational investigation of the natural universe originated largely with early Hellenic thinkers. Thus, the major part of this book is of necessity devoted to Greece. Drawing wherever possible on original sources, Dr. Sarton, one of the world's foremost historians of science, paints a vivid and illuminating picture of mathematics, astronomy, physics, biology, medicine, and other sciences as they emerged from the mists of prehistory and ultimately flourished within the context of Greek society.
The book is divided into three parts. Part One begins with the earliest evidence of prehistoric mathematics, astronomy, and other science. Dr. Sarton then describes the achievements of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the dawn of Greek culture and the remarkable flowering of Ionian science in the sixth century B.C. Thales of Miletos, Anaximandrox, and Xenophanes are among the important figures discussed. An entire chapter focuses on the influential doctrines of Pythagoras.
Part Two opens with the glory of Athens in the fifth century B.C. and its magnificent achievements in poetry and the arts, philosophy, and science. Described in lucid detail are groundbreaking contributions of Heracleitos, Anaxagoras, Protagoras, Zenon of Elea, Parmenides, Democritos, and many others. Also included in this section are perceptive discussions of geographers and historians of the fifth century (Herodotos, Thucydides, and others) and Greek medicine of the fifth century (chiefly Hippocratic).
Part Three focuses on the extraordinary Greek thinkers of the fourth century B.C.: Plato and the Academy, Aristotle, Xenophon and many others, including such important schools of thought as the cynics, stoics, skeptics, and epicureans. Major attention is given to mathematics, astronomy and physics, natural sciences and medicine, Aristotelian humanities, and historiography and other topics.
"Of great value to the general historian and an exciting, arresting story for the lay reader. — The Yale Review
Although science did not begin in ancient Greece (millennia of work in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and other regions preceded Greek efforts) it is nevertheless true that methodic, rational investigation of the natural universe originated largely with early Hellenic thinkers. Thus, the major part of this book is of necessity devoted to Greece. Drawing wherever possible on original sources, Dr. Sarton, one of the world's foremost historians of science, paints a vivid and illuminating picture of mathematics, astronomy, physics, biology, medicine, and other sciences as they emerged from the mists of prehistory and ultimately flourished within the context of Greek society.
The book is divided into three parts. Part One begins with the earliest evidence of prehistoric mathematics, astronomy, and other science. Dr. Sarton then describes the achievements of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the dawn of Greek culture and the remarkable flowering of Ionian science in the sixth century B.C. Thales of Miletos, Anaximandrox, and Xenophanes are among the important figures discussed. An entire chapter focuses on the influential doctrines of Pythagoras.
Part Two opens with the glory of Athens in the fifth century B.C. and its magnificent achievements in poetry and the arts, philosophy, and science. Described in lucid detail are groundbreaking contributions of Heracleitos, Anaxagoras, Protagoras, Zenon of Elea, Parmenides, Democritos, and many others. Also included in this section are perceptive discussions of geographers and historians of the fifth century (Herodotos, Thucydides, and others) and Greek medicine of the fifth century (chiefly Hippocratic).
Part Three focuses on the extraordinary Greek thinkers of the fourth century B.C.: Plato and the Academy, Aristotle, Xenophon and many others, including such important schools of thought as the cynics, stoics, skeptics, and epicureans. Major attention is given to mathematics, astronomy and physics, natural sciences and medicine, Aristotelian humanities, and historiography and other topics.
"Of great value to the general historian and an exciting, arresting story for the lay reader. — The Yale Review
688 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2011
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About the author
George Sarton
143 books59 followersGeorge Sarton (1884–1956) was a Belgian-American chemist and historian who is considered the founder of the discipline of history of science.He has a significant importance in the history of science and his most influential work was the Introduction to the History of Science, which consists of three volumes and 4,296 pages. Sarton's ultimate goal was to achieve an integrated philosophy of science that provided a connection between the sciences and the humanities, which he referred to as "the new humanism".
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 17, 2021
Depending on how you read this book and why, I rate it 3 or 4. For me and what I wanted, it was a strong 4.
George Sarton's 1952 book was the first in a series that was to cover the History of Science from Egypt and Mesopotamia to the 20th Century. Sarton died soon after completing the second of his proposed volumes. This book was part of a larger enterprise. Every aspect of Sarton's scholarship was part of large, too large, ambitious, too ambitious, encyclopedic, too encyclopedic efforts to discover and discuss the story of man's slow and inconsistent pursuit of science. Sarton's teaching never included doctoral students, his first book series (Introduction to the History of Science) was unfinished, his last book series (A History of Science) was also unfinished, the journals he created continued to evolve. He wanted to cover everything, to include everyone, to document, explain, comment on every aspect of every science across every culture in every age. These are characteristics better suited to create a field, start a movement, or establish a museum. They are not the focused goals, restraint, and discipline needed to shape a successful book, even a scholarly book. Sarton's obsession, enthusiasm, and intellectual ambition guaranteed that he could never finish the great task he set for himself.
Quoting a review from 1953 [T. A. Goudge in University of Toronto Quarterly 23(1)]:
"This massive volume commences the task of presenting in a form palatable to the general reader the material contained in the author's even more massive Introduction to the History of Science (5 vols., 1927-48). The larger of these works was written in the severe style of an encyclopedic source-book, and was intended to be consulted rather than read. The present work, although far from being a popularization, is intended to be read rather than consulted. Its style is patterned on that of the lectures which Dr. Sarton gave on the history of science during more than forty years of teaching at Harvard University. As one would expect, the work reflects the deep and cosmopolitan learning of the author. Yet he successfully avoids any suggestion [page break] of pedantry by adopting an informal manner of writing and by expressing his personal views on various matters en passant. Thus, although the exposition is never watered down, it is likewise never dry."
I will return to my own comments. To today's readers, the book will seem pedantic. Most of the footnotes are digressions on digressions. Most of the figures represent the author's love of his subject and desire to share it. Classicists and historians of science may care, but non-specialist like myself will quickly decide to ignore all but the text. In fact, we can skim or skip much of the text (that that summarizes information about minor players or questions of textual authenticity or sequences of translation from Greek to Arabic to Jewish to Latin to French or Italian). All of this is evidence of Sarton's method and rigor, but once you are convinced of that, focus on the broader stories that Sarton tells and continually interrupts: Greek Science was impossible without Egyptian and Mesopotamian pre-science, Greek society was from start to finish deeply superstitious and irrational, geometry and math made unbelievable progress without the language or tools of math, that some cosmologists, biologists, and geographers imagined explanations that were relatively true long before any empirical evidence could be obtained to address such questions. Sarton defines science broadly (search for truth) and thus includes the Greek historians. He favors men who do not force theory on reality, men who are patient, humble, honest, accurate. Men who respect fact. Sarton is particularly fond of Thucydides, Hippocrates, and Aristotle. When idealism leads to math it is useful. When it leads to spiritualism it is less so. When it leads to dogmatic public policy, it is evil.
Sarton wrote this book in 1952. Like Karl Popper (The Open Society and Its Enemies, 1945), Sarton considered Plato (of The Republic and The Laws) a major source of 19th Century historicism and 20th Century totalitarianism (Nazism and Communism). The post-war years were critical for Science, History of Science, and a reappraisal of ancient thought vis a vis its effect on modern life. Pharmaceuticals, nuclear weapons, Einstein, and electronics pushed the bounds of science. Popper, Agassi, Kuhn, Lakatos, and Feyerabend turned History of Science into Philosophy of Science. In 1952, The Encyclopedia Britannica published its 1st edition of The Great Books of the Western World. Volumes were dedicated to Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle. This handsome set reenforced the idea of "the Ancients" as iconic artifacts. That the cultural canon was set, the documents complete, authorship certain, and vagaries of translation and copying nonexistent. Lesser scientists were omitted. Better to reinforce names that people already know. Sarton's book (1952) is an antidote to The Great Books (1952). The latter looks like a history of Western Thought. The former is a history of Western Thought. For good and bad, Greek thought still affects much in Western culture.
George Sarton's 1952 book was the first in a series that was to cover the History of Science from Egypt and Mesopotamia to the 20th Century. Sarton died soon after completing the second of his proposed volumes. This book was part of a larger enterprise. Every aspect of Sarton's scholarship was part of large, too large, ambitious, too ambitious, encyclopedic, too encyclopedic efforts to discover and discuss the story of man's slow and inconsistent pursuit of science. Sarton's teaching never included doctoral students, his first book series (Introduction to the History of Science) was unfinished, his last book series (A History of Science) was also unfinished, the journals he created continued to evolve. He wanted to cover everything, to include everyone, to document, explain, comment on every aspect of every science across every culture in every age. These are characteristics better suited to create a field, start a movement, or establish a museum. They are not the focused goals, restraint, and discipline needed to shape a successful book, even a scholarly book. Sarton's obsession, enthusiasm, and intellectual ambition guaranteed that he could never finish the great task he set for himself.
Quoting a review from 1953 [T. A. Goudge in University of Toronto Quarterly 23(1)]:
"This massive volume commences the task of presenting in a form palatable to the general reader the material contained in the author's even more massive Introduction to the History of Science (5 vols., 1927-48). The larger of these works was written in the severe style of an encyclopedic source-book, and was intended to be consulted rather than read. The present work, although far from being a popularization, is intended to be read rather than consulted. Its style is patterned on that of the lectures which Dr. Sarton gave on the history of science during more than forty years of teaching at Harvard University. As one would expect, the work reflects the deep and cosmopolitan learning of the author. Yet he successfully avoids any suggestion [page break] of pedantry by adopting an informal manner of writing and by expressing his personal views on various matters en passant. Thus, although the exposition is never watered down, it is likewise never dry."
I will return to my own comments. To today's readers, the book will seem pedantic. Most of the footnotes are digressions on digressions. Most of the figures represent the author's love of his subject and desire to share it. Classicists and historians of science may care, but non-specialist like myself will quickly decide to ignore all but the text. In fact, we can skim or skip much of the text (that that summarizes information about minor players or questions of textual authenticity or sequences of translation from Greek to Arabic to Jewish to Latin to French or Italian). All of this is evidence of Sarton's method and rigor, but once you are convinced of that, focus on the broader stories that Sarton tells and continually interrupts: Greek Science was impossible without Egyptian and Mesopotamian pre-science, Greek society was from start to finish deeply superstitious and irrational, geometry and math made unbelievable progress without the language or tools of math, that some cosmologists, biologists, and geographers imagined explanations that were relatively true long before any empirical evidence could be obtained to address such questions. Sarton defines science broadly (search for truth) and thus includes the Greek historians. He favors men who do not force theory on reality, men who are patient, humble, honest, accurate. Men who respect fact. Sarton is particularly fond of Thucydides, Hippocrates, and Aristotle. When idealism leads to math it is useful. When it leads to spiritualism it is less so. When it leads to dogmatic public policy, it is evil.
Sarton wrote this book in 1952. Like Karl Popper (The Open Society and Its Enemies, 1945), Sarton considered Plato (of The Republic and The Laws) a major source of 19th Century historicism and 20th Century totalitarianism (Nazism and Communism). The post-war years were critical for Science, History of Science, and a reappraisal of ancient thought vis a vis its effect on modern life. Pharmaceuticals, nuclear weapons, Einstein, and electronics pushed the bounds of science. Popper, Agassi, Kuhn, Lakatos, and Feyerabend turned History of Science into Philosophy of Science. In 1952, The Encyclopedia Britannica published its 1st edition of The Great Books of the Western World. Volumes were dedicated to Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle. This handsome set reenforced the idea of "the Ancients" as iconic artifacts. That the cultural canon was set, the documents complete, authorship certain, and vagaries of translation and copying nonexistent. Lesser scientists were omitted. Better to reinforce names that people already know. Sarton's book (1952) is an antidote to The Great Books (1952). The latter looks like a history of Western Thought. The former is a history of Western Thought. For good and bad, Greek thought still affects much in Western culture.
May 19, 2013
Good long view. Two criticisms, 1) too light on the math and philosophy and too heavy on the literature and culture. 2) too much fatuous Harvard professor commentary on matters of pure opinion. He hates Plato and loves Aristotle, but who cares? Sarton utterly fails to see that Plato provided a philosophical superstructure which justified mathematics as a discipline of pure thought independent of reality. To this day, most mathematicians are Platonists. He also fails to see that the rigorous logical formulation of geometry on definitions and axioms was probably a philosophical innovation, just as it was in the twentieth century.
Read
March 11, 2020Although the word 'science' appears twice in the title, there's darn little science in this book. Lots of history and art, a ton of philosophy and even a fair dose of religion. Sarton states that science means the search for truth, which explains how the book encompasses so much non-science.
This book shows its age, it's quite parochial. It barely mentions ancient Indian science, and Chinese not at all. And while it heartily condemns the ancient religions as superstition, he makes several comments about how wonderful his personal religion is!
Final comment: This edition (Norton) must be using five-point font. And footnotes are even smaller!! If you're not in your 20's anymore, forget it.
This book shows its age, it's quite parochial. It barely mentions ancient Indian science, and Chinese not at all. And while it heartily condemns the ancient religions as superstition, he makes several comments about how wonderful his personal religion is!
Final comment: This edition (Norton) must be using five-point font. And footnotes are even smaller!! If you're not in your 20's anymore, forget it.
November 12, 2025
A history of ancient science that spans prehistory to the fourth century in Greece. We see the Egyptians and Mesopotamians give way to the Bronze Age, which gives way to the Iron Age, but many pages are devoted to the Greeks, especially the fifth and fourth centuries. From the Ionian philosophers to Pythagoras, to the Pre-socratics, through Socrates, Plato, and most importantly Aristotle, with a bit of a coda on the Epicureans and the Stoics. We also see other players like Hippocrates, Eudoxos, Xenophon, and Herodotus. Almost every major and minor thinker is in the book. I found the constant footnotes a bit of a break in the rhythm. I like them best when they are chapter notes at the end of each chapter. I don't like them on every page distracting me, and I don't like them piled up in the back of the book. Chapter notes are more manageable. Alas, they were everywhere interspersed into the main text, ugh. Also, could you make the print a little larger and easier on the eyes?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews