American Science Historian, Professor Mordechai Feingold Gives TCD Lecture on Humanities in the Age of Science

Posted on: 04 December 2006

The American historian of science, Professor Mordechai Feingold, of the California Institute of Technology, and author of the acclaimed The Newtonian Moment: Science and the Making of Modern Culture, spoke on the ‘Humanities in the Age of Science’ at the inauguration of the Glucksman Memorial Lectures in Trinity College on Friday, December 1 last.

Professor Feingold has specialised in the history of European science between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The overall focus of his research has been the manner in which the rise of “modern science” has transformed western culture from a humanistic, religious, and unified culture circa 1500 into a scientific/technological, secular, and fragmented culture by the turn of the twentieth century.

His work has demonstrated how the emergence of a specialised domain of science profoundly affected traditional canons of knowledge, contributing to the fragmentation of the shared culture that formerly dominated Europe for centuries.

In his lecture, Professor Feingold highlighted some key points of contention between scientific and humanist culture in the early modern period and referred to their contemporary relevance today. After the lecture a round table discussion took place with representatives of the Arts, Humanities and Sciences from Trinity College.

Professor Feingold’s lecture is the first in a series of public lectures, the Glucksman Memorial Lectures, named in honour of the American philanthropist Lewis Glucksman. Lewis Glucksman has an unparalleled record in supporting research and learning in the arts and humanities in Trinity College and in Ireland. He contributed to the award-winning Ussher Library in Trinity and the Library’s Map Library and Conservation Department bear his name. His generosity also enabled the Library to acquire research resources such as the Napoleonic political cartoons and the Barbara Bray correspondence with Samuel Beckett. His wife, Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman, will launch the lecture series.

The Glucksman Memorial Lectures are being organised under the auspices of Trinity College’s Long Room Hub initiative. The Long Room Hub is the flagship for developing humanities research in Trinity, bringing together a community of scholars around the College’s rich literary and historical holdings.

Commenting on the importance of the Glucksman Lecture series, TCD Librarian, Robin Adams said: “Part of the role of the Long Room Hub is to bring the results of research and thought to a wider audience and the Glucksman Memorial Lectures will take this mission forward. The series will explore the influence that the arts and humanities can play in the wider community.”

Prof Feingold, TCD Prof Jane Ohlmeyer, Provost, Dr John Hegarty, Dr Loretta Glucksman.