The purpose of this paper is the discussion of a recent article presented by Joel Mokyr
who offered, according to his own words, a new “variant of the European Miracle question”1.
The main thesis of his article The Great Synergy: the European Enlightenment as a factor in
Modern Economic growth points to the European Enlightenment as being a crucial factor for
attaining and establishing modern, i.e. sustainable economic growth in Europe once the
British Industrial Revolution had overcome its humble beginnings at the end of the eighteenth
century.
Mokyr argues that the stability of economic growth which was reached in Europe after
1825 was to a great extent due to a new attitude towards the relation between technology and
progress. This new attitude was the result of a development that had its roots in the European
Enlightenment where the foundations for a new understanding of science and technology
were laid. The outcome of this development was the unique ‘idea of research’ that made
scientists and craftsmen cooperate, giving way to a very fruitful convergence of science and
technology that helped making sustainable economic growth possible. This evolution mingled
with the modification of institutional mechanisms which was a result of the Enlightenment,
too. These two trends both formed a ‘Great Synergy’ that finally yielded the ‘European
Miracle’.
To prove and strengthen his thesis, Mokyr compares the history of European sciences
with those practiced in China coming to see that Chinese sciences were confined to and
restricted by the Mandarin rulers, thus a situation similar to pre-enlightened Europe. But his
comparisons to the Asian continent are limited to the situation in China. It could therefore be
telling to have a look at Indian sciences, especially when discovering that India “had a wellestablished
scientific and technological tradition of its own long before being subjected to an
extended period of European colonial rule”2. Going deeper into Indian history we will see,
that on top of that, before the colonization by the British, “traditional knowledge generated
large-scale economic productivity for Indians”3. Departing from these considerations, the present paper will put Mokyr’s assumption under inspection examining the Indian history of
science and technology.
The arising problem is thus twofold, implicating questions that are clearly inter-related
with each other and which are touching fields both of science and economy.
[...]
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Mokyr: The Great Synergy
3 History of science and technology in India
3.1 The Harrapan period
3.2 Vedic Period and Classical Age
3.3 The Indo-Muslim synthesis
4 Impediments to Indian science and development
5 Conclusions
Objective & Research Focus
This paper investigates the thesis of Joel Mokyr regarding the "Great Synergy" of the European Enlightenment—the convergence of science and technology—by examining whether similar processes or impediments existed in Indian history to explain its different path of industrial development.
- Analysis of Mokyr's "Great Synergy" hypothesis
- Overview of scientific and technological traditions in India (Harrapan to Mughal period)
- Evaluation of historiographical perspectives on Indian science
- Examination of social, religious, and political impediments to technological progress
- Critical reflection on the necessity of Enlightenment-style applied sciences for industrial growth
Excerpt from the Book
3 HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA
“Among the nations, during the course of centuries and throughout the passage of time, India was known as the mine of wisdom and the fountainhead of justice and good government and the Indians were credited with excellent intellects, exalted ideas, universal maxims, rare inventions, and wonderful talents. They have studied arithmetic and geometry. They have also acquired copious and abundant knowledge of the movement of the stars, the secrets of the celestial sphere and all other kinds of mathematical sciences. Moreover, of all the peoples they are the most learned in the science of medicine and thoroughly informed about the properties of drugs, the nature of composite elements and peculiarities of the existing things”.
This testimony, made by a Spanish Muslim scholar at the beginning of the eleventh century A.D. gives an interesting insight into the nature of Indian sciences and renders the question why it did not come to a convergence of science and technology in India similar to that one in Europe after the Enlightenment even more intriguing. As it seems useful to have an overview of the development of science and technology in India throughout the centuries, the following pages are dedicated to this special issue of Indian history. And as Indian history embraces some millennia, a history of Indian science and technology must without fail cover a long period of time as well. But not only the extension in time makes it a challenge to summarize the history of Indian science but as well its plurality. It is not difficult to imagine that in such a vast territory like the Indian subcontinent with its diverse cultural and geographical regions, there developed a “wide variety of different oral and textual traditions, drawing upon exogenous contacts as well as indigenous roots“. Thus due to the restricted space in the present paper, we will have to confine ourselves to a few salient points of this fascinating history of India’s contribution to science and technology throughout the centuries, mainly those that are of concern for the issue at stake, The Great Synergy.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces Joel Mokyr's "Great Synergy" thesis and establishes the central research problem regarding the historical development of science and technology in India.
2 Mokyr: The Great Synergy: It outlines Mokyr’s argument that the European Enlightenment created a unique institutional and ideological framework which enabled stable, sustainable economic growth.
3 History of science and technology in India: This chapter provides an overview of India’s long scientific tradition, challenging Eurocentric views by exploring the Harrapan, Vedic, and Indo-Muslim eras.
3.1 The Harrapan period: An examination of the technical advancements of the Indus-Valley civilization, including urban planning, hydraulics, and early computational techniques.
3.2 Vedic Period and Classical Age: This section covers developments in astronomy, mathematics, medicine (Ayurveda), and linguistics, while noting the role of the caste system in knowledge distribution.
3.3 The Indo-Muslim synthesis: It discusses the creative syncretic culture between Hindu and Muslim traditions, emphasizing the role of the Mughal court and the state-controlled karkhanas in technological patronage.
4 Impediments to Indian science and development: This chapter identifies social, religious, and political factors—such as the caste system and lack of institutionalized science—that hindered the convergence of theoretical and practical knowledge.
5 Conclusions: The author concludes that while India possessed a high degree of scientific advancement, the specific "Great Synergy" described by Mokyr did not occur due to different social conditions, and suggests that economic development was a driver for, rather than a result of, applied sciences.
Keywords
Great Synergy, Joel Mokyr, Enlightenment, Indian History, Science, Technology, Industrialization, Industrial Enlightenment, Ayurveda, Karkhanas, Caste System, Economic Growth, Historiography, Traditional Knowledge, Non-development
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper discusses and critically examines Joel Mokyr's "Great Synergy" hypothesis, which posits that the European Enlightenment was the primary driver for modern sustainable economic growth through the convergence of science and technology.
What are the primary themes explored in the work?
The central themes include the history of Indian science and technology, the comparative analysis between European and Indian paths to development, and the role of social and institutional structures in fostering or hindering innovation.
What is the primary research question?
The paper asks why India, despite having a long and sophisticated scientific tradition, did not generate "useful knowledge" in the European sense to trigger sustainable industrial growth, and whether Mokyr's theory holds true when applied to the Indian context.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research is a qualitative historical analysis that synthesizes existing literature and historiographical perspectives to test a specific economic theory against historical data from the Indian subcontinent.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a historical overview of Indian scientific achievements from the Harrapan civilization through the Vedic and Classical ages to the Indo-Muslim synthesis, followed by a critical investigation of structural impediments like the caste system.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as "Great Synergy," "Industrial Enlightenment," "Indian science," "historiography," and "non-development."
How did the caste system influence Indian technological development?
According to the author, the caste system acted as a rigid barrier by separating the intelligentsia from manual labor, thus preventing the necessary interaction between scientists/scholars and artisans that is essential for technological convergence.
What was the role of the karkhanas?
Karkhanas were state-controlled manufacturing institutions during the Sultanate and Mughal periods that served as hubs for technological diffusion by gathering immigrant and local craftsmen to train in specialized technical fields.
Does the author agree with Mokyr's conclusions on the 'European Miracle'?
The author argues that Mokyr's thesis is only partially convincing. The author concludes that applied sciences in Europe were more likely a result of existing industrial and economic evolution rather than a direct precondition triggered solely by Enlightenment ideas.
- Quote paper
- Nadja Schuppenhauer (Author), 2008, History of Science and Technology in India in the Context of the 'Great Synergy', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/136089
