36| History of Science: Mythmaking & Contingency — Patricia Fara

About this episode

Patricia Fara discusses the mythologization of scientists and the societal context of scientific discoveries.

Scientific discoveries can often be codified in simple laws, neatly stated in textbooks with directions on applying them. But the enterprise of science is embedded in society. It depends on individuals and economies. It is far from simple to answer the question: How did we get these laws? Patricia Fara is an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge. She is a former president of the British Society for the History of Science and has written Science: A Four Thousand Year History, Newton: The Making of Genius, and numerous other books. Patricia discusses the way we often mythologize individual scientists and how the notion of genius has changed over the centuries. She also highlights lesser-known figures, such as Hertha Ayrton, whose contribution should not be measured merely in scientific breakthroughs, but in how they paved the way for further women scientists.

People in this episode

Host: James Robinson

Guest: Patricia Fara

Topics covered

• history of science
• mythmaking
• contributions of women in science
• scientific genius
• societal impact on science

Keywords

• science history
• mythmaking
• scientific genius
• women in science
• Patricia Fara

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Clare College, Cambridge, British Society for the History of Science

Books & works: Science: A Four Thousand Year History, Newton: The Making of Genius

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