Peter Harrison - Science and Progress (Lecture 5)

Professor Peter Harrison - Science and Progress, recorded 22 February 2011.

The Fall-Redemption narrative not only informed the goals and methods of the new sciences, but also placed the scientific revolution within the larger context of Christian history.

The great efflorescence of scientific activity that characterised the seventeenth century was regarded variously as a prelude to the millennium, as one facet of a general reformation of religion and learning, or as a means of helping to restore to the human race a mastery of nature that had been lost as a consequence of the Fall. The idea of scientific progress thus initially derived its legitimacy from a providential understanding of history.

The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw the emergence of a number of 'scientific eschatologies', which, in their secularised forms in the nineteenth century, were ironically to consign religion to a primitive stage of historical development. On this view of history, religion was destined to be displaced by science.

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[EdinburghUniversity]

Update on Lecture 6: I've managed to track it down and it's just been uploaded. It should be available to view within the next few hours.

Sorry for the omission and I hope you enjoy the lecture.

[EdinburghUniversity]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll investigate the missing 6th lecture.

[1977Taake1977]

Exceptional series of lectures!

[MaitreyaMakMorn]

@EdinburghUniversity Thank you!

[MaitreyaMakMorn]

I second the request below. Please upload the sixth and last (?) lecture. This is a magnificent series of lectures and we would really appreciate the possibility of completing it.

[pebblesandgems]

Is there a missing 6th fragment of this series? Would appreciate a watch?v=code for it. Thank you.

[StuddleyG]

very interesting