Anton Howes, "Arts and Minds: How the Royal Society of Arts Changed a Nation" (Princeton UP, 2020)
Jul 22, 2024
auto_awesome
Historian Anton Howes discusses the Royal Society of Arts' significant contributions to British life, from education to environmental initiatives. The podcast explores the society's role in promoting inventions, reforming patents, and shaping national industry competitions. It highlights Prince Philip's environmental conservation efforts and reflects on the RSA's lasting influence on society and voluntary initiatives.
The Royal Society of Arts promoted a culture of innovation by rewarding diverse inventions from non-elite individuals.
The Society of Arts emphasized inclusivity, patriotism, and international cooperation through exhibitions, promoting technological advancements and utilitarian philosophy.
The RSA's advocacy for patent system reform aligned with utilitarian principles, enhancing inventor protection and fostering an innovation-friendly environment.
Deep dives
History and Purpose of the Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society of Arts, Britain's national improvement agency, originated from a gap in the application of scientific knowledge towards useful ends in the early 18th century. Founded as an organization to promote invention, the RSA rewarded non-patented innovations from diverse individuals, including inventors, artisans, and teenagers. Members pooled funds to offer premiums for inventions, ranging from safety improvements to manufacturing techniques, fostering a culture of innovation and improvement across various fields.
Differences in Society Structure and Global Exhibitions
The Society of Arts distinguished itself from traditional learned societies by emphasizing patriotism and improvement accessible to all, including women and individuals beyond the elite. It stood out for its democratic structure, direct democracy, and inclusive approach. The Society of Arts inspired and spearheaded international exhibitions, like the Great Exhibition of 1851, showcasing technological advancements, promoting utilitarian philosophy, free trade, and world peace through the exchange of ideas and innovations among nations.
Impact on Patent System Reform and Utilitarian Philosophy
The Society of Arts played a significant role in advocating for patent system reform in the mid-19th century, aligning with utilitarian principles of promoting inventions that benefitted the public good. By streamlining the patent process and reducing costs, the RSA ensured greater access to protection for inventors and encouraged a more innovation-friendly environment. Influenced by the utilitarian philosophy of figures like Jeremy Bentham and John Mill, the RSA's initiatives reflected a commitment to shaping policies and practices that enhanced societal progress and welfare.
Legacy of the Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of 1851 served as a significant event in history, with various countries showcasing their products and designs. It led to the initiation of world fairs and exhibitions globally. While the British organized subsequent events, including one in 1862, notable but less remembered, the impact of these exhibitions extended beyond displays to embracing systematic reforms and organizing global exhibitions.
Society of Arts and Environmental Conservation
The Society of Arts' historical significance under Henry Cole's leadership led to the establishment of museums in South Kensington. Focusing on education, art, and science, the organization's legacy transcended the exhibitions to promote public education, arts, and science, impacting policymaking and educational reforms. Notably, Prince Philip's involvement in the mid-20th century catalyzed the society's role in conservation and environmentalism, driving conversations, conferences, and policy implementations, ushering in the era of modern environmental concerns.
Over the past 300 years, The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce has tried to improve British life in every way imaginable. It has sought to influence education, commerce, music, art, architecture, communications, food, and every other corner of society. Arts and Minds: How the Royal Society of Arts Changed a Nation (Princeton University Press, 2020), written by the historian of innovation and the RSA’s resident historian Anton Howes, is the fascinating story of this unique institution.
Drawing on exclusive access to a wealth of rare papers and artifacts from the Society’s own archives, Howes shows how the Society of Arts has constantly reinvented itself to keep in step with changing times. The Society has served as a platform for Victorian utilitarian reformers, purchased and restored an entire village, encouraged the planting of more than sixty million trees, and sought technological alternatives to child labour. Arts and Minds reveals how a society of public-spirited individuals tried to make their country a better place, and draws vital lessons from their triumphs and failures for all would-be reformers today.
Matthew Jordan is a professor at McMaster University, where he teaches courses on AI and the history of science. You can follow him on Twitter @mattyj612 or his website matthewleejordan.com.
