The social roots of science

Edgar Zilsel

pp. 305-308

in: Herlinde Pauer Studer (ed), Norms, values, and society, Berlin, Springer, 1994

Abstract

Fully developed, science is to be found only in modern European-American civilization. As its development began in early capitalism we shall have to study the period from the end of the Middle Ages until 1600. Results obtained by ancient mathematicians, astronomers, and physicists and by medieval Arabic physicians have greatly influenced the beginning of science in modern Europe. We shall discuss not this influence, but the social and economic conditions which made it possible.