Scientific Revolutions: Primary Texts in the History of Science

By Brian S. Baigrie

Covering physics, astronomy, chemistry, the various branches of biology, and geology, this book is the perfect introduction to the history of science. A compilation of interesting readings, Scientific... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0130990914
• ISBN13: 9780130990914
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Pearson
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Anthology of primary source readings

I have used this text as a reader in my general education history of science course and I recommend it. Each reading begins with an editorial comment that helps the student focus on the main points. Chronologically, the text begins with Aristotle and ends with Einstein and Schrodinger. Baigire covers variety of subjects, including astronomy, physics, biology and chemistry. Primary source readings help the student to understand the variety of philosophical perspectives that fall under the category of "science." I would like to see this volume expanded in a second edition, with more 20th century biology and chemistry.

a helpful tool for teaching history of science course

The book is a careful and chronologically organized selection of the primary texts in the history of the natural sciences. It is an excellent reader for history of science courses. Some of the texts that focus on experimental side and on invention of novel devices and techniques are of particular interest as they give a flavour of how experimental sciences were actually being made. One of the merits of the book is that the collection includes texts, which vividly portrait the way a discovery has been made, e. g. Mendeleev's periodic table. The introductory notes and recommended readings are useful. The book is well produced and well illustrated.