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How technology has changed society
An Essay about the scientific method
How technology has changed society
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Leviathan and the Air-Pump by Steven Shapin and Simon Schaffer Leviathan and the Air Pump is a book by Steve Shapin and Simon Schaffer, that was published in 1985. This book talks about the debate between Thomas Hobbes author of the political treatise Leviathan and vehement critic of the systematic experimentation in natural philosophy and Robert Boyle, mechanical philosopher and the owner of the newly invented air pump. The debate was over Boyle’s air pump experiment and existence of a vacuum in the 1660’s. Shapin and Schaffer were able to refute firmly any sort of traditionalist notions that "hard sciences" like physical chemistry were not affected by social currents. Shapin and Schaffer's work informed us on how Boyle's development of
Hobbes takes both principles and creates the Leviathan.
Henry, John. (2001). The scientific revolution and the origins of modern science. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Publishing
In the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes has many different things to say about human nature and what drives men to commit certain actions. All of the actions committed by men and Thomas Hobbes theories revolve around two central ideas, competition and desire. And because of competition and desire, people can never reach true happiness. Man’s own desires and need to be better than the next person will stop true happiness. But in order to understand why Hobbes believes this, his view on human nature has to be looked at first. In Chapter 11 of the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes places great emphasis on desire. Hobbes says that mankind always does whatever it needs to in order to accomplish its desires. When we accomplish one desire, we simply move on to whatever we want next. The progress that is made in accomplishing one desire and moving on to the next one is what he calls Felicity (Leviathan Ch.11). The reasons that men have desires in the first place are because we have a life style that we love and enjoy. So naturally, humans want to do everything they can in order to keep that lifestyle.
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, England as a son of a lawyer and a small landowner. Although he was born into a time of political turbulence, he received a great deal of education while growing up (“John Locke”). At the age of 14, he entered into one of Britain’s most prominent independent school, known as The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster. Consequently, in 1652 he was accepted into Christ Church, Oxford which led to him being elected to a senior studentship in 1659 (“John Locke”). As Locke tutored at the college for several years, he sparked an interest in experimental science. Evidently, he was nominated as a mem...
What is the natural condition of human beings? How does the natural condition of human beings lead to war? What is the remedy of the natural condition of human beings? In his book, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes states that human beings are equal and thus there is no greater good in life. Hobbes analyzes the natural condition of human beings by examining their desires and behavior. He further examines how the natural condition of human beings, if left to rule itself without the existence of the law, leads to conflict and war. Because the natural condition of human beings leads to war, he provides a suggestion that will enable them to live peacefully and co-exist. Hobbes explains that by nature, human beings are equal and they have an equal hope to
Fresh air was once thought to be an actual medical cure for tuberculosis patients in sanitariums. The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett is an accurate representation of tuberculosis patients' lives in sanitariums during World War I. Although the book is fictional, all the facts about tuberculosis sanitariums are true. The book's plot revolves around several main characters that are living in a tuberculosis sanitarium during World War I. The story is told by a nameless narrator who is also a patient in the sanitarium. The storyteller focuses on two patients, Leo and Miles, who were both sent to the facility after contracting tuberculosis. The story also follows three staff: Naomi, Eudora, and Irene, all of whom have dedicated their lives
Hobbes, T. (1991). Leviathan. Edited with an introduction and notes by Richard Tuck. Cambridge University Press.
On the similarities and dissimilarities of the theories of human nature by Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Hobbes, there is a single common denominator that resonates throughout all of their works: in some way, shape, or form, they all attempt to outline and convey to the reader a sense of political understanding derived via a methodical approach to the interpretation of human society. Thomas Hobbes, author of The Leviathan, argues that mankind cannot be readily trusted to uphold the terms of certain covenants, and from this one can derive that Hobbes believes men to be fickle and capricious in their decisions, and that they should generally not be trusted. Hobbes also asserts that there exists a natural law that dictates that man will adhere to the policy of self-preservation above all else. These two arguments form the basis for what Hobbes refers to as the state of nature, in which the “will to contend by battle is sufficiently known” (Hobbes Ch. 13). The renowned Greek philosopher and author of Politics, Aristotle, contradicts Hobbes’s theory of human nature with his assumptions of man and the the polis. Aristotle’s belief that “man is a political animal”
Hobbes, T. (1839-45) The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart. Vol. 3. Leviathan. London: Bohn. Accessed via: http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/hobbes-the-english-works-vol-iii-leviathan
Wolf, A. A History of Science, Technology and Philosophy in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Vol. 2. New York: Harper, 1959.
Our first individual, Thomas Hobbes, wrote many books about history, geometry, the physics, theology, ethics, and philosophy; however, the one that made him known as the father of political science and one of the great philosophers of all time is the book Leviathan. In it Hobbes sets out his doctrine of the foundation of a legitimate government that would basically fit human sin by creating an objective view of morality.
Robert Boyle was a very well known scientist, born in January 27, 1627 and died in 1691. He was influenced in science at the age of 14 after travelling and studies in Europe. He returns from Europe in 1644 and he was very interest in science by then. He builds his laboratory in Oxford and London and starts his research. He studies nature chemical and natural color, and he was the first person to publish his work in detail. Boyle studied the behavior of the volume of gas and the pressure and state that if the volume of a gas decrease, the pressure increase. ...
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two horrific tales of science gone terribly wrong. Shelley?s novel eloquently tells the story of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living monster out of decomposed body parts, while Stevenson?s novel describes the account of one, Henry Jekyll, who creates a potion to bring out the pure evil side to himself. Although the two scientists differ in their initial response and action to their creations, there are strong similarities between their raging curiosity to surpass human limitation, as well as their lack of responsibility concerning their actions. These similarities raise an awareness of human limitation in the realm of science: the further the two scientists go in their experiments, the more trouble and pain they cause to themselves and to others.
In The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes talks about his views of human nature and describes his vision of the ideal government which is best suited to his views.
Rowlinson, J.S. “James Joule, William Thomson and the Concept of a Perfect Gas.” The Royal