Description
Taylor & Francis A Chaos of Delight Science Religion and Myth and the Shaping of Western Thought 2014 Edition by Geoffrey Dobson
Humans throughout history have sought ways of understanding their place within the world. Religion, science and myth have been at the forefront of this quest for meaning. A Chaos of Delight examines how various cultures - from the early Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks to contemporary Western society - have looked at the same phenomena and devised totally different world views. The rise of modern science is examined, alongside questions of evolution and the origins of life. This comprehensive volume is an essential read for students and scholars interested in the history of ideas and the role of religion, science and myth in the development of Western thought. Table of contents :- Preface 1. Science, Religion and Myth: Making Sense of the World 2. The Sumerians: Life among the Gods 3. Ancient Egyptians: Optimism and Opportunity 4. The Presocratics: From Myth to Reason 5. Classical Greece: Different Roads to Truth 6. Early Christianity: The Historical Road to One God 7. Medieval Christendom: Faith and Reason 8. Triumphant Rise of Western Science 9. The Big Bang: Starlight to Superstrings 10. Origins of Life: Molecules to Machines 11. Humankind's Evolutionary Origins and Emergence of Mind 12. Tradition at the Crossroads: Seeking Harmony in Diversity