The Beginnings of Western Science

The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, 600 BC to AD 1450

David C. Lindberg

University of Chicago, 1992, 455pp (FHL 509.4)

Interesting comment in Preface that author repeatedly warns of a variety of perils in doing history, often giving "anti-Whig inoculation." (Hmmm, need to read more on his views about Whigs, but normally this refers to the Whigs' progressive view of history, that is, history is moving forward and things are constantly getting better, more like what God wants. It is an inherantly teleological view i.e. human history is goal-directed).

Finally on p. 149 he addresses the relationship of Christianity to science. Given that Christianity came to play a major role in the later Roman Empire, the question is "how did the dominance of Christianity affect knowledge of, and attitudes toward, nature?" Lindberg says "the standard answer, developed in the 18th and 19th centuries and widely propagated in the 20th, maintains that Christianity presented serious obstacles to the advancement of science and, indeed, sent the scientific enterprise into a tailspin from which it did not recover for more than a thousand years. The truth, as we shall see, is far different and much more complicated" (p. 149).

Add more here on pp. 149-159.

Also looks like other material related to enlightenment anti-religious attitude. Author states most all historians have now abandoned the idea of 500-1450 as the "dark ages," agreeing that this was an unfair term applied by Renaissance scholars.

In chapter 14, the author discusses "The Continuity Debate" (pp. 355-368). This is analogous to the conservative vs. enlightenment debate on when real liberty emerged. Some wish to mark the beginning of real modern science with the Renaissance (as a revival of ancient learning), while others trace important developments during the Middle Ages. The author tends to accept the historical construct of the 'scientific revolution,' seeing a qualitative break at that time with the past in some ways. Although he also criticizes those who deny any continuity.

Need to read and review this some more. Also related to this are the works of Stanley Jaki, Rodney Stark.