The Early Years of the Royal Institution 1799-1810
A Re-evaluation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9337488 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Morris Berman (Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1972 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 205-240 |
| Publication date | 1972-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Science studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2703-1551 • E-ISSN: 2703-1543 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/030631277200200301 |
| OpenAlex | W2140748608 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
It is generally agreed that English science in the eighteenth century was not a very inspired affair. With the death of Newton in 1 727, the 'scientific spirit', asJ. T. Merz termed it, passed from England to France.' Certainly, there was no lack of individual talent, as the names of Hales, Cavendish, Priestley, Herschel, and Maskelyne might indicate; but there was no scientific community as such. While the French were busy developing a scientific establishment complete with journals, training academies, and an 'official' newtonien point of view, English science remained fragmented and unprofessional. The leading scientific body, the Royal Society of London, tended to reinforce the dilettantish conception of science as polite learning pursued by gentlemen, despite its early interest in a Baconian type of practical research. Locke's characterization of natural philosophy as something a gentleman must 'look into . . . to fit himself for conversation' remained true for most of the eighteenth century.2 With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the Baconian definition of science experienced a strong revival in England, particularly in the northern provinces. For the new class of technicians and industrial magnates 'the arts'-innovations, inventions, and other technological improvements-were dependent upon science and no real distinction was made between scientific and technical knowledge. 'Science' now meant the fruit of inventiveness, a combination of technology and applied science. It was no longer conceived of in the context of polite learning or disinterested research, but rather as closely linked to the production of wealth
Institution · Political science · Historical and Literary Studies · Law
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,06 |
| Citation span | 1978 - 2020 (43) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |