The Scientific Revolution (science.culture)

We all have at least a vague notion of the essence of the scientific revolution--a transition to mechanistic and materialist accounts of nature, bold experimentation, the rise of a clear scientific method. What Steven Shapin accomplishes in his lucid and concise retelling of the old tale is a complete dismantling of this so-called "essence." Not that these characteristics of the scientific revolution didn't exist, but that the shift to them was halting and spotty, even among many of the thinkers we find most representative of the revolution. An excellent overview with an impressive bibliographical essay that covers works on virtually every imaginable aspect.