Leviathan and the Air-Pump - (Princeton Classics) by Steven Shapin & Simon Schaffer (Paperback)

Leviathan and the Air-Pump is a groundbreaking book that explores the conflicts between two influential thinkers of the 17th century, Thomas Hobbes and Robert Boyle.

This book provides a detailed analysis of their disagreements over the value and propriety of experimental methods in natural philosophy.

The authors, Steven Shapin and Simon Schaffer, offer a unique perspective on the historical study of science by examining the work habits, rituals, and social structures of these two intellectuals.

They demonstrate how politics were closely tied to what scientists did, rather than what they said, and how this influenced the early history of scientific experimentation. The book has been highly influential in the field of historical studies of science and has won numerous awards, including the 2005 Erasmus Prize.

The authors' innovative approach to understanding the work habits and social structures of scientists has led to a new perspective on the relationship between politics and science. Leviathan and the Air-Pump is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of science, philosophy, or political theory.

It provides a comprehensive and engaging account of the conflicts between Hobbes and Boyle, and how their ideas continue to shape our understanding of scientific experimentation today.