Science and the English Enlightenment: Simon Schaffer 1982

Considers the relations between the way of life of the 18th century English élite and the place occupied by science in polite culture. Scientific instruments are examined in the context of music, architecture, painting and other aspects of 18th century life.
Presented by Simon Schaffer.
For more: www2.imperial.ac.uk/blog/video...

[@Muonium1]

I love Simon Schaffer, we don't appear to have anything like him in the US. Very deep insightful knowledge about the history of natural philosophy expressed with striking clarity.

[@kipling1957]

Amazing. Simon Schaffer was 27 when this was made. He owns his field of academia even then.

[@superatible]

This brings more context to the BBC 4 program, Light Fantastic, regarding William Herschel, a very fascinating story.

[@davidwilkie9551]

Another way to "follow the money". The Industrial Revolution swept aside a particular sycophantic form og Natural Philosophers who relied on Patronage, and like Beethoven, started a new direction in independent thinking that always exists, but requires educational opportunities for "self starters".

[@RonJohn63]

I saw nothing in this video which supports the thesis that "the Industrial Revolution swept aside Natural Philosophy".

[@Beach_comber]

Very interesting and enjoyable, but I don't agree with Schaffer's closing remarks about the industrial revolution sweeping aside polite Enlightenment culture in the 1790s. The Royal Institution of Great Britain, that epitome of polite Enlightenment culture, was founded in the 1790s and soon entered on it's glory years under Humphrey Davey and then Michael Faraday. The cream of polite society in London flocked to their lectures.

[@lt4954]

They say how science comes after religion. I think that it is reverse. This might be anticipated here. So: science first, and then religion and appropriation. PS Equally saying how it goes for 'democratisation of knowledge', it in fact goes for 'democratisation of means without knowledge'. It can be easily seen what will rule in the future.