Sociološki Pregled (Jan 2013)
Authority and astronomy: On the historical frame of the rise of modern science
Abstract
Topic of the article is relation of the rise of modern science and religion in Western Europe in XVI-XVII Century. Author gives try to contribute to polemics unfolded around Robert Merton's study Science, Religion and Society in XVIIth Century England (1938), with two new thesis demonstrated on the basis of historical material. First, immediate significance of religion is not the main issue but relation and polemics among the Churches in the period of late Reformation, i.e., at the end of XVI Century. Here profound significance belongs to the sceptical polemics between chatolics (jesuits) and protestants (Hugenots) in France during the second half of the Century. For no side could afford the answer to the question of truth meaning of Holly Writt, polemisc have deepen the crisis of Christian theology in general. Thus, space is being open to the new born science of Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo as a new alternative. In keeping with that new expectation was born that mathematized science could by investigation of nature as work of God, with established natural laws provide the basis for reunion of Christianity and for moral reconstruction of Christian Commonwelth. This was a leading utopia of Newton-Leibnitz generation of XVII Century rationalists. According the second thesis, for institutionalization of science with Royal Society in London (1662) experience of toleration afforded through the civil war is more important than puritan religion. Furthermore, English puritanism, at the time of its forming in the middle o XVI Century was vividly totalitarian. But, one century latter, when Ryal Society was taking place, puritanism demonstrated well transformed character on the basis of libertarian attitude or on the path of via media. In that fashion it was really suitable as a factor in rise and establishing of modern science in England. Due to this trait, although majority of first member-team Royal Society have had open door for scientists of catholic faith. Therefore, author dos not attack Merton's thesis, by only gives short critique of it for missing of that historical genesis of puritanism.
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