Skip to main content
M:S5:7 3
Edit position
Edit position

Last set 1 day, 22 hours ago. Manual moves override automatic placement until the next shelfie/spine match.

The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science

by Michael Strevens

This investigation examines the historical emergence of science and why it developed long after philosophy and mathematics. It argues that scientific success is driven by a strict focus on empirical evidence that excludes philosophical, religious, and aesthetic considerations.

Accession 16841 ISBN 9780241205778 Publisher Allen Lane
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science spine
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science cover
Live
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science live spine
No live
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science spine The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science live spine
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science cover
No live
TAGS
Curated Derived
History Knowledge Philosophy Science Technology
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-04 12:55
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
M:S5:7 3 Current vertical
1 day, 22 hours ago
M:N3:10 3 vertical
4 days, 19 hours ago
M:S5:7 3 vertical
1 week, 3 days ago
M:N3:10 3 vertical
1 week, 3 days ago
Book Location
Updated 1 day, 22 hours ago
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged → flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 01:16 (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science
vernon_id
26171
accession_no→ accession_number
16841
vernon_slug
the-knowledge-machine-how-an-unreasonable-idea-created-modern-science-michael-strevens

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9780241205778

Descriptive

production_date
2020
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
Why did we take so long to invent science? And how did our invention prove to be so powerful? The Knowledge Machine gives a radical answer, exploring how science calls on its practitioners to do something apparently irrational: to strip away all previous knowledge - such as religious, metaphysical or political beliefs - in order to channel unprecedented energy into observation and experiment. -- Publisher's description.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Michael Strevens
tags→ tags
Philosophy, Knowledge, Theory of, Science -- History, Science -- Philosophy, Observation (Scientific method), Science -- Methodology
subject_people
—
subject_objects
—

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
31216

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.
Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "the-knowledge-machine-how-an-unreasonable-idea-created-modern-science-michael-strevens"
"opacObjectId": "26171"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [1 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "31216"
"cssColors": [4 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "f5f5dc"
"hue": 60
"rank": 1
"presence": 83.9
"colorName": "beige"
"lightness": 91
"colorGroup": "white"
"saturation": 56
"formattedColorName": "beige"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "696969"
"hue": 0
"rank": 2
"presence": 7.94
"colorName": "dimgray"
"lightness": 41
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 0
"formattedColorName": "dim gray"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "a9a9a9"
"hue": 0
"rank": 3
"presence": 7.16
"colorName": "darkgray"
"lightness": 66
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 0
"formattedColorName": "dark gray"
"[3]": {9 keys}
"hex": "708090"
"hue": 210
"rank": 4
"presence": 0.41
"colorName": "slategray"
"lightness": 50
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 13
"formattedColorName": "slate gray"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "f8f8f1"
"hue": 60
"rank": 1
"presence": 83.9
"lightness": 95
"saturation": 33
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "64605c"
"hue": 30
"rank": 2
"presence": 7.94
"lightness": 37
"saturation": 4
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "a7a49f"
"hue": 37
"rank": 3
"presence": 7.16
"lightness": 63
"saturation": 4
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "838284"
"hue": 270
"rank": 4
"presence": 0.41
"lightness": 51
"saturation": 0
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "8c8385"
"hue": 346
"rank": 5
"presence": 0.27
"lightness": 53
"saturation": 3
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "bcbbbc"
"hue": 300
"rank": 6
"presence": 0.32
"lightness": 73
"saturation": 0
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "ac9c7c"
"hue": 40
"rank": 7
"presence": 0.0
"lightness": 58
"saturation": 22
"imageLabels": [10 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 342
"score": 93.88
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Eyebrow"
"imageLabelId": 213
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 509
"score": 92.27
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Eyelash"
"imageLabelId": 59
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 84.68
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 82.76
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 11006
"score": 80.96
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Art"
"imageLabelId": 4
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 80.96
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 19018
"score": 80.9
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Publication"
"imageLabelId": 23
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 3297
"score": 71.87
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Circle"
"imageLabelId": 8
"[8]": {5 keys}
"count": 5931
"score": 70.09
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Illustration"
"imageLabelId": 25
"[9]": {5 keys}
"count": 1482
"score": 68.41
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Drawing"
"imageLabelId": 62
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "517"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "258"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "23"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "97"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "48"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/19682/b3e861de8867be99ac2c560cfeb9e3436b50d7ce.jpg"
"width": "775"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 1
"objectSearchScore": 0.3118719
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "16841"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science / Michael Strevens"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "The knowledge machine : how an unreasonable idea created modern science / Michael Strevens"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Strevens, Michael"
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "2020"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "2020-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "2020-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Why did we take so long to invent science? And how did our invention prove to be so powerful? The Knowledge Machine gives a radical answer, exploring how science calls on its practitioners to do something apparently irrational: to strip away all previous knowledge - such as religious, metaphysical or political beliefs - in order to channel unprecedented energy into observation and experiment. -- Publisher's description."
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "United States of America"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Allen Lane"
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "x, 350 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Includes bibliographical references and index."
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "English"
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "9780241205778"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "500 STR"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [5 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Knowledge, Theory of/Philosophy"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Knowledge, Theory of/Philosophy""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Observation (Scientific method)/Science -- Methodology"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Observation (Scientific method)/Science -- Methodology""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Science -- History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Science -- History""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "Science -- Methodology"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Science -- Methodology""
"[4]": {2 keys}
"value": "Science -- Philosophy"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Science -- Philosophy""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "michael-strevens"
"title": "Michael Strevens"
"relatedRecordId": "30630"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1
Topics and Themes