The Origins of Statics. The Sources of Physical Theory.

From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - Discoloring on spine of the dust jacket due to light exposure, minimal staining on the edge, otherwise very good and clean. / Lichtbedingte Verf�ung am R�cken des Schutzumschlags, minimale Verschmutzungen an Schnitt, sonst sehr gut und sauber. - Pierre Duhem�s historical writings remain the single most significant works read routinely by historians of science and those interested in the origins of science. Duhem showed that an unsuspected continuity existed between the scientific works of ancient Greece and those of the 16th century. Duhem essentially discovered the existence of science in the Middle Ages and showed that medieval texts contained the origins of many scientific concepts. The Middle Ages were thus shown to be a period in which the prevailing Aristotelian thought was criticized and modified to take account of new knowledge and empirical data. The focus of Duhem�s thesis of continuity are the manuscripts of Jordanus de Nemore. Although known to other historians of science, it was Duhem who understood the significance of these writings, and who placed them in their proper perspective. The school of Jordanus, in Duhem�s view, conditioned much Renaissance scientific thinking, as well as that of the 16th century mechanicians. The Origins of Statics thus brings to the English reader the gradual development and articulation of the most important concepts of mechanics and thereby adds a significant dimension to their understanding of the history of science. ISBN 9780792308980