Sidebar- Women's Historical Role in the Sciences<
Fiorella Terenzi also wishes to bring a feminine aspect to science. But I don't know that that means! Does it mean that science is performed differently or with untraditional methods and approaches? Does it mean that it is practiced within a more human-centered ethos? Does it mean that she would like to see more women scientists? (Actually, I think we all would.) So the second avenue that I wish to explore here is the role that religion played in the science education for an elite group of people who were mostly male. Again, I may or may not have interpreted what Fiorella had in mind. (Reader Beware Squared!)
Women have not had a large role in the sciences for most, or all, of the existence of science. Even in historical instances, when women were influential in other other areas, they have not been able to gain a significant entry in the hard sciences. You may say that it was simply because of the prevailing sexism of the times. However, the reasons are more likely due to the church dominating much of our ancestors' scholarly endeavors. That made a large difference in the science gender percentages, as I will show you.
For about 1500 years, up until about the seventeenth century, the Western cosmological perspective was dominated by Christianity. The earth was at rest at the center, and a series of heavenly crystalline spheres orbited carrying the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Each of these spheres had an associated religious entity such as angels, archangels etc. Beyond this sealed cosmos was the heaven of God, where spirits of all sorts were vibrantly buzzing with activity. In the seventeenth century, the Newtonian cosmos emerged and is mostly what we use today.
The mathematically-based sciences, such as physics, have had roots throughout scientific history that were deeply entwined with religion. This connection has been strong even after the seventeenth century. I know, you are probably saying to yourself: "But WAIT, how could the physical sciences and religion have such a close association?! Wasn't Galileo trying to break away from the Church?"
Unfortunately, from the thirteenth century through the eighteenth century, the prominent scientists of those times were consciously aligning themselves with the Christian churches. Galileo's ardent hope, in fact, was to gain the Pope's endorsement. Other prominent scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton were deeply religious men who created their cosmological systems by reconceiving the Judeo-Christian god as a "divine mathematician." The scientist Cusa believed that to study mathematics was to study the mind of God. Roger Bacon promoted science as a means to terrorize unbelievers and to interpret the Scripture.
These religious links made it close to impossible for women to enter the scientific arena. The higher education that was a part of the resurgence of learning in the late Middle Ages was available only to men training for the Church. These universities provided education for the clergy, and since women were not eligible for clergy positions, there was no place where the women could learn mathematics and science.
In the eighteenth century, science and religion finally began to separate. There now remains a somewhat secular environment with some scientists viewing themselves as a kind of scientific priest. Recent well-known physicists have even presented their work as a quest to illuminate the mathematical plan of Creation that is of divine origin (Einstein, Hawking). And the Theory-of-Everything proponents may have quasi-religious rather than scientific goals.
A culture of physical sciences that encourages both men and women to pursue different kinds of goals would be a good thing. More variety. Since science is a culturally-directed pursuit, it would be beneficial for all to have women involved in determining what science is, how it is practiced, how to put it to use in our lives, and what are its ideals and goals. I hope this dream isn't too far off.
References
The main premise and all of the material in the "Feminine Science" section came from:
Wertheim, Margaret, Pythagoras' Trousers, Times Books, 1995.
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