A fundamentally new approach to the history of science and
technology
This book presents a new way of thinking about the history of science
and technology, one that offers a grand narrative of human history in
which knowledge serves as a critical factor of cultural evolution.
Jürgen Renn examines the role of knowledge in global transformations
going back to the dawn of civilization while providing vital
perspectives on the complex challenges confronting us today in the
Anthropocene--this new geological epoch shaped by humankind.
Renn reframes the history of science and technology within a much
broader history of knowledge, analyzing key episodes such as the
evolution of writing, the emergence of science in the ancient world, the
Scientific Revolution of early modernity, the globalization of
knowledge, industrialization, and the profound transformations wrought
by modern science. He investigates the evolution of knowledge using an
array of disciplines and methods, from cognitive science and
experimental psychology to earth science and evolutionary biology. The
result is an entirely new framework for understanding structural changes
in systems of knowledge--and a bold new approach to the history and
philosophy of science.
Written by one of today's preeminent historians of science, The
Evolution of Knowledge features discussions of historiographical
themes, a glossary of key terms, and practical insights on global issues
ranging from climate change to digital capitalism. This incisive book
also serves as an invaluable introduction to the history of knowledge.
