Research, Invent, Improve

A Dictionnaire Technologique for Non-elites (1822-35)

Bibliographic Data

ID4018907
AuthorsJohn Pannabecker, John R Pannabecker (corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume59
Issue3
Pages546-589
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueTechnology and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0040-165X • E-ISSN: 1097-3729
PublisherProject MUSE (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1353/tech.2018.0059
PMID30245495
OpenAlexW2893288088
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited16

After nearly a quarter century of war, France faced the challenge of retooling for peace. From 1822 to 1835 a team of five savant-technologists challenged elitism through the twenty-six-volume Dictionnaire Technologique. They promoted research and innovation by redistributing technological knowledge to the general public through an accessible, comprehensive, up-to-date publication. This study illustrates the Dictionnaire's approach by focusing on innovative products made by tinsmiths and how the authors' synthesis of theory and practice promoted the acceleration of industrial change via a consumer-oriented alternative to a war economy. This study thus challenges the dominant historical narrative that has framed French technology as focused on theory against a British emphasis on practice, instead of integrated theory and practice; a French lag behind Britain, instead of a unique French artisanal path of innovation; and a repressive aristocratic political regime, instead of the pragmatic opposition of politics through dissemination of technology to non-elites

Archaeology · Art · Economics · Economy · Elitism · Literature · Media studies · Narrative · Opposition (politics) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Quarter (Canadian coin) · Sociology · European Political History Analysis · Historical and Literary Studies · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Law