Science and the Industrial Revolution

							Science, Technology and the
    Industrial Revolution
      A Focus on Chemistry
           Two Questions
• Musson and Robinson address these two
  questions
  – “What were the connections between Science
    and the Industrial Revolution?”
  – “And how was technological knowledge
    developed and diffused?”
             An Approach
• Their premise is that science and
  technology (applied science, empiricism)
  were fundamentally and necessarily
  interrelated during the Industrial
  Revolution.
• Neither science alone nor technology
  alone drove the IR.
    Scientific Discoveries and
Technological Inventions Fueled the
       Industrial Revolution
• Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th
  centuries  principles and laws of physics
  (heat, work, energy, thermodynamics,
  motion) and chemistry (elements,
  reactions, thermochemistry)
• 1660 Establishment of the Royal Society
  of London for Improving Natural
  Knowledge
                 Science
• Science - from the Latin word, scientia, for
  knowledge
• An intellectual enterprise whose goal is to
  explain the natural world. This means the
  development of principles and laws that
  are tested and that can predict outcomes.
• The main areas of science are physics,
  chemistry, geology, biology, astronomy.
         Natural Philosophy
• This term was used widely in the 18th
  century to mean the study of the natural
  world.
• Musson argues that this study
  encompasses what we call science and
  technology. ( pp. 3-4)
           Scientific Method
• Identify a question
• Propose a hypothesis
• Construct and carry out experiment to test
  hypothesis
• Observe and record results
• Refine hypothesis
• Test refined hypothesis with more expts (repeat
  as needed)
• Develop theory that is consistent with
  observations and accepted laws of nature and
  predicts future exptal outcomes
   Technological Inventions and
  Scientific Discoveries Fueled the
        Industrial Revolution
• Industrial Revolution of the 18th-19th
  centuries represented practical application
  of science to increase agricultural and
  industrial production, to create new
  materials, processes and manufacturing
  methods, to improve health, to create new
  sources of power; in fact, a collaboration
  of science and technology.
                 Technology
• Technology: from the Greek word technologia
  for the study of craft.
• Application of scientific discoveries to practical
  problems with the goal of increasing the quality
  of life, productivity, improved health and
  sanitation, etc.
• The success of a new technology is reflected in
  goals above, adoption and adaptation rates,
  minimalization of deleterious outcomes and
  optimizing economic benefit.
English Patents of Invention Issued
            1660-1890
• From Clow and Clow pp 2-3
• Note 1760 in particular

                                          # Patents Grants vs Year

                           600
       # English Patents




                           500
                           400
                           300                                                 Series1
                           200
                           100
                            0
                            1640 1660   1680 1700 1720 1740   1760 1780 1800
                                                  Year
     Science and Technology
• “The eighteenth century witnesses a
  closer rapprochement between science
  and technology. On the one hand, men of
  science took a more active interest in
  practical problems; on the other hand,
  practical craftsmen or technicians showed
  a new interest in the scientific aspects of
  their work” (A. Wolf, History of Science,
  Technology, and Philosophy, XVIIIth
  Century, p 499; from Clow and Clow p 4)
       The Distinction Fades
• In fact, science and technology are
  collaborators and complementary.
  – Science informs technological advances
    through theories and principles (what is
    possible).
  – Technology provides vast experimentation
    and results (what happened).
• See Musson and Robinson, pp. 3-4
 Boundaries of Time and Space
• Scientific and technological advances are
  based on prior discoveries and accepted
  theories. They do not emerge without
  historical context.
• In addition, these advances are made
  across national and continental borders.
  Knowledge is disseminated, supported or
  rejected, refined and revised through
  additional experimentation.
     Synergy of Disciplines and
            Industries
• We will note the synergy (impact and
  progress is greater than sum of the parts).
• The synergy between the iron and coal
  industries is a good example.
• Also the synergy between physics and
  engineering in the invention of the steam
  engine.
             Skill Transfer
• The skills of a clockmaker were
  fundamental to the making gear wheels for
  the textile machines.
• The millwright working on windmills
  brought essential skills to the steam
  engine.
• Carpenters honed their skill on cart wheels
  and then applied them to mill wheels.
     Chemical Transformations
“Among the useful arts, it is difficult to select one
  that is not very immediately dependent upon
  chemical principles … bleaching, dyeing, calico-
  printing, and tanning; in the arts of pottery, of
  glass, and porcelain, or in the apparently more
  remote operations of the brewer and distiller…oil
  of vitriol, of preparing vinegar form wood, of
  extracting pure acid from the lemon …
  propagation and effects of heat…” (Quarterly
  Journal, 1819, 7, 205; from Clow and Clow, p xi)
          Other Dimensions
• This course is focused on science and
  technology during the IR, and, in
  particular, those with chemical basis.
• Obviously, this is not the whole picture.
• Economics
• Social changes
• Government
        Government Actions
• Actions of government bodies played a
  critical role in industrialization. They
  – passed Acts giving privileges to investors in
    industry (capitalists),
  – provided awards for inventions,
  – granted patents
  – passed Acts of Enclosure
  – lowered interest rates making cheap capital
    available
              References
• Clow, A; Clow; N. L. The Chemical
  Revolution: A Contribution to Social
  Technology; The Batchworth Press:
  London,1952.
• Musson A. E.; Robinson, E. Science and
  Technology in the Industrial Revolution;
  University of Toronto, 1969.