The Structure of Scientific Progress: The Case of Roger Bacon

Event Description 

 

This talk explores the importance of the medieval period and nineteenth-century medievalism to the invention of modern science by placing the work of thirteenth-century Franciscan, polymath, and scholastic natural philosopher Roger Bacon (ca. 1214-1292) into conversation with later scholars, especially William Whewell (1794-1866). Elly Truitt argues that Bacon’s work and reputation became central to a narrative about the development of science that insisted on Europe as the only possible place of origin. Furthermore, Truitt argues that this narrative was constructed, in part, by ignoring large parts of Bacon’s corpus and erasing his deep engagement with medieval scholars working in the Arabic tradition, and by relying instead on a narrative structure that emerged in the context of late antique and medieval Christianity.

 

Event Speaker

 

Elly Truitt, Associate Professor of History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania

 

Event Information

 

This event is free and open to the public; Registration required. Please contact scienceandsociety@columbia.edu with any questions. 

 

This event is part of the New York History of Science Lecture Series.

 

Sponsoring Organizations:

 

The University Seminars at Columbia University

Columbia University in the City of New York

NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study

The Graduate Center, City University of New York

The New York Academy of Medicine

The New York Academy of Sciences

 

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