Paths of Fire: An Anthropologist's Inquiry into Western Technology

348 Pages·1.06 MB·English

by  Adams R.Mc.

PATHS OFFIRE

PATHS OF FIRE
AN ANTHROPOLOGIST’S INQUIRY
INTO WESTERN TECHNOLOGY
Robert McC.Adams
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Copyright(cid:211) 1996byPrincetonUniversityPress
PublishedbyPrincetonUniversityPress,41WilliamStreet,
Princeton,NewJersey08540
IntheUnitedKingdom:PrincetonUniversityPress,
Chichester,WestSussex
AllRightsReserved
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Adams,RobertMcCormick,1926–
Pathsoffire:ananthropologist’sinquiryinto
Westerntechnology/RobertMcC.Adams.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN0-691-02634-3(cloth:alk.paper)
1.Technologyandcivilization.
2.Civilization,Western—History. I.Title.
CB478.A34 1996
303.48¢3—dc20 96-12733 CIP
ThisbookhasbeencomposedinTimesRoman
PrincetonUniversityPressbooksareprinted
onacid-freepaperandmeettheguidelines
forpermanenceanddurabilityoftheCommittee
onProductionGuidelinesforBookLongevity
oftheCouncilonLibraryResources
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Ruth

Contents
ListofTables ix
Preface xi
1. PathsofFire:TheIdeaofTechnologicalChange 3
2. TheUsefulArtsinWesternAntiquity 36
3. TechnologyandtheNewEuropeanSociety 69
4. EnglandastheWorkshopoftheWorld 104
5. AtlanticCrossing:TheAmericanSystemEmerges 138
6. TheUnitedStatesSucceedstoIndustrialLeadership 173
7. TheCompetitiveGlobalSystem 212
8. NewPaths:TechnologicalChangeinaBorderlessWorld 253
Notes 279
ReferencesCited 301
Index 327

Tables
3-1 NumbersofNewEighteenth-CenturySteamEngines,by
Decade 99
4-1 TotalBritishExportsandExportsofBritishCotton 111
4-2 IndicesofOutput,VariousIndustries 121
5-1 Nineteenth-CenturyGainsinAgriculturalProductivity 165
6-1 PercentageSharesofAgricultureandIndustry,Value
AddedinConstantPrices 178
6-2 PercentageofSteelProducedbyVariousMethods,
1870–1940 179
6-3 EnergySourcesasPercentageofAggregateConsumption 181
6-4 AggregateMilesofRailroadTrackage 183
6-5 AmericanAgriculturalExports,1867–1901 201
7-1 U.S.R&DbyPerformingSectorandFundSource,
1960–1993 223
7-2 Basic/AppliedResearchFundingbySelectedFederal
Agencies 224
7-3 R&DExpendituresbyU.S.Manufacturers,1958–1990 224
7-4 EarnedDoctoralDegreesbyFieldandPercentageof
Women,1960–1991 230
7-5 PercentageofU.S.DoctoratesEarnedbyNoncitizens,
1977–1991 230
7-6 ScienceandEngineeringMastersDegrees,1966and1991 230
7-7 FederalObligationsforAcademicR&DbyAgency,
1971–1993 233
7-8 1991FederalandNonfederalR&DExpendituresat
AcademicInstitutionsbyField 238
7-9 CorporateR&DExpendituresforDrugsandMedicines 238
7-10 ScientistsandEngineersinR&DbyCountry,1965–1989 242