- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press; New edition edition (Mar 1 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0195115511
- ISBN-13: 978-0195115512
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.6 x 1.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #631,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
Praise for earlier editions: "Mr. Russell succeeds in investing the subject with a fresh interest....Even on the points on which one disagrees--and in a book of this type there will necessarily be many--the discussion is always acute and illuminating. Mr. Russell has endeavored to state opposing points of view with fairness."--Henry Hazlitt, The New York Times
Book Description
In this timely work, Russell, philosopher, agnostic, mathematician, and renowned peace advocate, offers a brief yet insightful study of the conflicts between science and traditional religion during the last four centuries. Examining accounts in which scientific advances clashed with Christian doctrine or biblical interpretations of the day, from Galileo and the Copernican Revolution, to the medical breakthroughs of anesthesia and inoculation, Russell points to the constant upheaval and reevaluation of our systems of belief throughout history. In turn, he identifies where similar debates between modern science and the Church still exist today. Michael Ruse's new introduction brings these conflicts between science and theology up to date, focusing on issues arising after World War II. This classic is sure to interest all readers of philosophy and religion, as well as those interested in Russell's thought and writings.
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First Sentence
RELIGION and Science are two aspects of social life, of which the former has been important as far back as we know anything of man's mental history, while the latter, after a fitful flickering existence among the Greeks and Arabs, suddenly sprang into importance in the sixteenth century, and has ever since increasingly moulded both the ideas and the institutions among which we live. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
RELIGION and Science are two aspects of social life, of which the former has been important as far back as we know anything of man's mental history, while the latter, after a fitful flickering existence among the Greeks and Arabs, suddenly sprang into importance in the sixteenth century, and has ever since increasingly moulded both the ideas and the institutions among which we live. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Religion and Science,
By Daniel (VA) - See all my reviews
Ce commentaire est de: Religion and Science (Paperback)
I really enjoyed this book. Basically this is a history book of science and religion and how they have interacted over the history of mankind. Bertrand explains how almost every great scientific finding or revolution is oppressed ...by religion in some way or another. Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Darwin, Vesalius, Harvey, Simpson, and many other distinguished scholars have all been at least fearful of the reactions of the churches, but also of the general population. Bertrand also goes into detail how the idea of ?soul? has changed through time: ?We not only react to external objects, but we know that we react. The stone, we think, does not know it reacts, but if it does it has ?consciousness.? Here also, on analysis, the difference will be found to be one of degree.? I rate this book with five out of five stars; I enjoyed it and still do enjoy it thoroughly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction, somewhat out-of-date,
By
Ce commentaire est de: Religion and Science (Paperback)
Even though it's over 75 years old by now, this little book by Russell is still a very good introduction to the history of science and religion. Russell observes how at pretty much every juncture, the religious authorities (whom he categorizes as sadistic and misogynistic) stifled advances in science that contradicted their dogma. While couched in theological arguments, their motivations were actually more influenced by the fact that science put their authority into question. And anything that puts an authoritarian's rule into question must be eradicated. While he was writing of the past, Russell nonetheless saw the same forces at work at the time of writing, stating that communism and fascism became "the inheritors of theological bigotry."And indeed, it seems these same dynamics are at play today. That's where I think Russell's analysis falls short. As Michael Ruse points out in the introduction, the book is a little out of date. The 'conflict' hasn't so much been a monolithic one of "science" vs. "religion". In my opinion, it has more to do with the psychology behind these impulses: one of open-mindedness and free discovery, and one of brute totalitarian rule. While religion has definitely typified the latter for its entire history, the worldview can also apply to secular institutions, as Russell noted. The identity of the problem isn't clearly defined here. I think David Ray Griffin's summary of Whitehead's views on the subject, as well as his own analysis on the circumstances surrounding the main players in the 'conflict' and the forces at play that left 'science' victorious gets closer to the heart of the matter (see Whitehead's Radically Different Postmodern Philosophy: An Argument for Its Contemporary Relevence). The battle was a political one, and competing 'religious' worldviews suffered just as much as 'science'. Griffin also presents a more coherent metaphysic than Russell's materialism, for what it's worth. As for a more current take on the subject, I recommend Thomas Dixon's volume, Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Titans' Battle is Reviewed by Capable Hands,
By
Ce commentaire est de: Religion and Science (Paperback)
Quick overview of the centuries long conflict between religion and science. Russell firmly believes that religion has stood in the natural path of science on multiple fronts. Every time religion has been "pushed aside" by science (sometimes violently), man has made tremendous progressive strides. This includes discovering that blood flows through the body and the failure to find the soul within the body, amongst dozens of other examples.The book's age takes very little away from the book. Russell even acknowledges that the fields of science he speaks about are still progressing and his words about them will one day be less poignant. Fascinating and quick, I read "S&R" after "The Problems of Philosophy" and "The Conquest of Happiness," but before "Why I Am Not a Christian."
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