Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.23 (565 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0307275663 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-06-27 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
But the bones are too slender to bear the metaphorical weight of modernity that he gives them. Given Shorto's splendid storytelling gifts, this is a pleasure to read, but ultimately unsatisfying. All rights reserved. Their sporadic appearance in the tale also makes them a shaky narrative frame for the sprawling events Shorto presents as the result of Descartes's work: the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the 19th century's scientific explosion, 21st-century battles between faith and reason. From Publishers Weekly At the center of this philosophical tale by the acclaimed author of The Island at the Center of the World is a simple mystery: Where in the world is Descartes's skull, and how did it get separated from the rest of his rema
Flawed but fascinating! Angie Boyter Whether you are a " philosophile" or know Descartes only for the famous "Cogito, ergo sum", you will probably find this well-told tale of the continuing legacy of Descartes' thinking fascinating and informative. I enjoyed this book so much that I almost feel guilty not giving it a 5-star rating, but it DOES have two serious flaws. As others have pointed out, the "hook" of the title, the story of Descartes' bones over the past 350 years, is not well integrated into the rest of the book and is not a big enough "hook" on which to hang the book anyway (It might make a nice magazine article.). The second big fla. The subtitle pretty much says it. The narrative framework is provided by the odd journeys of Descartes' mortal remains.I read Descartes in college, of course, so I knew what he wrote, but somehow missed his place in the history of knowledge. Shorto gives him credit as the actual inventor of critical thinking, and a little reflection convinces me he is probably right. This makes Descartes a more towering figure than I thought.Among other controversies, Shorto traces the history of the mind and body problem, but pulls the final punch and refuses to admit it as finally resolved. He quotes a contemporary philosopher, Thomas Nagel:"For many phil. "A fascinating book!" according to Sahra Badou. This is a really fascinating book.The author first introduces the reader to the philosophy of Descartes and why he was the most influential thinker of his time.Descartes argued that in order for our society to advance, we must give up believing in religion and superstitions. He did not say he did not believe in a God, but simply that God does not or is unable to interfere in the day to day life of individuals. Furthermore, though there is a God, religion is man made and the way we think of God is all wrong. In order for real progress, humanity must give up religion. For this reason, many thought of Descarte
A New York Times Notable BookSixteen years after René Descartes' death in Stockholm in 1650, a pious French ambassador exhumed the remains of the controversial philosopher to transport them back to Paris. But as Russell Shorto shows in this deeply engaging book, Descartes' bones also played a role in some of the most momentous episodes in history, which are also part of the philosopher's metaphorical remains: the birth of science, the rise of democracy, and the earliest debates between reason and faith. Descartes' Bones is a flesh-and-blood story about the battle between religion and rationalism that rages to this day.. Thus began a 350-year saga that saw Descartes' bones traverse a continent, passing between kings, philosophers, poets, and painters