| Description |
x, 192 pages ; 24 cm |
|
regular print |
| Contents |
1. How myths work -- 2. Our place in the world -- 3. Progress, science and modernity -- 4. Thought has many forms -- 5. The aims of reduction -- 6. Dualistic dilemmas -- 7. Motives, materialism and megalomania -- 8. What action is -- 9. Tidying the inner scene: why memes? -- 10. The sleep of reason produces monsters -- 11. Getting rid of the ego -- 12. Cultural evolution? -- 13. Selecting the selectors -- 14. Is reason sex-linked? -- 15. The journey from freedom to desolation -- 16. Biotechnology and the yuk factor -- 17. The new alchemy -- 18. The supernatural engineer -- 19. Heaven and earth, an awkward history -- 20. Science looks both ways -- 21. Are you an animal? -- 22. Problems about parsimony -- 23. Denying animal consciousness -- 24. Beasts versus the biosphere? -- 25. Some practical dilemmas -- 26. Problems of living with otherness -- 27. Changing ideas of wildness |
| Summary |
According to Midgley, myths are neither lies or stories, but a network of powerful symbols that suggest particular ways of interpreting the world. In this interpretation she demolishes three of our most potent myths: the myth of the social contract, the myth of progress, and the myth of science. [from publisher's advertisement] |
| Notes |
"First published [in paperback] 2004"--t.p. verso |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 176-184) and index |
| Subject |
Experience.
|
|
Myth -- Philosophy.
|
|
Symbolism -- Philosophy.
|
|
Science -- Philosophy.
|
|
Philosophy.
|
|
Myth.
|
|
Symbolism.
|
|
Myth -- Social aspects -- History.
|
|
Civilization, Modern -- Philosophy.
|
| Genre/Form |
History.
|
| LC no. |
2002037168 |
| ISBN |
0415309069 hardback |
|
0415340772 paperback |
|
