Politics in Hobbes' mechanics: a case study in the sociology of scientific knowledge

dc.contributor.authorLynch, William T.en
dc.contributor.committeechairAriew, Rogeren
dc.contributor.committeememberDowney, Gary L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFeingold, Mordechaien
dc.contributor.committeememberFuhrman, Ellsworth R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPaterson, Robert A.en
dc.contributor.departmentScience and Technology Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:47:42Zen
dc.date.adate2010-10-13en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:47:42Zen
dc.date.issued1989-08-05en
dc.date.rdate2010-10-13en
dc.date.sdate2010-10-13en
dc.description.abstractA case study in the sociology of scientific knowledge is presented involving an examination of the development of Thomas Hobbes' mechanics in light of Hobbes' political views and the political context. Hobbes provides a good subject for research in the sociology of scientific knowledge for at least two reasons. First, Hobbes is a good case for examining the interaction between science and the broader political context. Given the controversial nature of Hobbes' political writings (supposedly grounded in his mechanics and aimed at resolving contemporary political problems), the possibility that political considerations entered into the production and reception of Hobbes' mechanics deserves attention. Second, applying new perspectives in the sociology of scientific knowledge can be shown to provide an unexpected payoff in helping resolve persistent disputes among intellectual and political historians regarding the interpretation of Hobbes' work. Specifically, a number of confusions about the relationship between Hobbes' political philosophy and his mechanical philosophy can be cleared up by recognizing that his political views may have influenced his mechanics. The perspective of a general sociology of scientific knowledge provides an appropriate tool for overcoming the reluctance of many political and intellectual historians to examine the social roots of a scientific theory. Hobbes' goal of providing a political philosophy to resolve political turmoil, within the context of Hobbes' participation in discussions on mechanics and mechanical philosophy , resulted in the particular mechanical approach Hobbes embraced.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentv, 134 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-10132010-020424en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10132010-020424/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/45200en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1989.L957.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 20590860en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1989.L957en
dc.subject.lcshMechanism (Philosophy)en
dc.subject.lcshScience -- Philosophy -- Researchen
dc.titlePolitics in Hobbes' mechanics: a case study in the sociology of scientific knowledgeen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineScience and Technology Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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