A Culture of Fact: England, 1550-1720
A Culture of Fact: England, 1550-1720
Shapiro, Barbara J.
product information
Condition: New, UPC: 9780801488498, Publication Date: Tue, April 1, 2003, Type: Paperback ,
join & start selling
description
2

Barbara J. Shapiro traces the surprising genesis of the fact, a modern concept that, she convincingly demonstrates, originated not in natural science but in legal discourse. She follows the concept's evolution and diffusion across a variety of disciplines in early modern England, examining how the emerging culture of fact shaped the epistemological assumptions of each intellectual enterprise.Drawing on an astonishing breadth of research, Shapiro probes the fact's changing identity from an alleged human action to a proven natural or human happening. The crucial first step in this transition occurred in the sixteenth century when English common law established a definition of fact which relied on eyewitnesses and testimony. The concept widened to cover natural as well as human events as a result of developments in news reportage and travel writing. Only then, Shapiro discovers, did scientific philosophy adopt the category fact. With Francis Bacon advocating more stringent criteria, the witness became a vital component in scientific observation and experimentation. Shapiro also recounts how England's preoccupation with the fact influenced historiography, religion, and literature--which saw the creation of a fact-oriented fictional genre, the novel.

reviews

Be the first to write a review

member goods

No member items were found under this heading.

notems store

Murder Under God's Eye: The ...

by Herhold, Scott

Paperback /Paperback

$25.19

Get Shit Done: Funny To-do ...

by Press, Note-It

Paperback /Paperback

$6.12

Ashley Bryan's ABC of African ...

by Bryan, Ashley

Paperback /Paperback

$6.74

listens & views

WARP

by NEW MUSIK

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$13.99

UNCLOUDED

by NERGAARD,SILJE

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$15.99

STRINGS OF THE SOUL

by C LANZBOM

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$9.75

GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME

by FATHER DIVINE

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$16.99

Return Policy

All sales are final

Shipping

No special shipping considerations available.
Shipping fees determined at checkout.
promoting relevance through notable postings ]
share it, buy it, sell it ]

A notem is a post that highlights an experience, idea, topic of interest, an event ... whatever a member believes worthy of discussion. Each notem becomes a pathway by which to make meaningful connections.

notems is a free, global social network that rewards members by the number and quality of notems they post.

notemote® © . Privacy Policy. Developed by Hartmann Software Group