A book in the
Cambridge History of Science Series, but
Thomas L. Hankins. The development of
Scientific thought during the
Enlightentment is
really fascinating, and although Hankins's treatment of the subject is a bit
dry, it still makes for
good reading.
Of particular interest is the development of the so-called moral sciences during this period. Many of the thinkers of the time were so optimistic about the explanatory power of scientific thought that they decided that "scientific" definitions of things like justice were possible.
Hankins does a thorough survey of these and the other, more conventional studies, in his book.
Confidence Index: 4