2.01 The Roots of Western Thought
Resources from the Shepway and District u3a Science, Philosophy and Spirituality Seminar on The Roots of Western Thought: 31st January 2024.
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Issue: Philosophy
From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: Understanding and Questioning Western Intellectual History
Explore the intricate evolution of Western intellectual history in this 14-module seminar series turned article, ‘From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: A Journey through Western Thought.’ Discover how ancient Greek philosophy laid the bedrock for modern scientific inquiry, ethical frameworks, and democratic governance. Dive into pivotal moments in history, from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, and examine the challenges and opportunities posed by the Anthropocene epoch. This comprehensive overview offers thought-provoking insights into how the West’s intellectual trajectory has shaped our world, and critically assesses the future of democracy in light of emerging philosophical perspectives and real-world governance innovations.
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1.03: The Geography of Thought
Modern Science arose within a context dominated by Western Philosophy with its roots in ancient Greece, as we will see in later units of this course. Eastern Philosophy, with its roots in ancient Chinese thought, makes very different assumptions about the nature of reality. The resources on this web page supported the discussions at this module of the course
Read MoreThe Knowledge Illusion: The myth of individual thought and the power of collective wisdom
In this groundbreaking book, cognitive scientists Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach show how our success as a species is down to us living in a rich community of knowledge where we are drawing on information and expertise outside our heads. And we have no idea that we are even doing it. — amazon.co.uk
Read MoreThe Order of Time
Time is a mystery that does not cease to puzzle us. Philosophers, artists and poets have long explored its meaning while scientists have found that its structure is different from the simple intuition we have of it. From Boltzmann to quantum theory, from Einstein to loop quantum gravity, our understanding of time has been undergoing radical transformations. Time flows at a different speed in different places, the past and the future differ far less than we might think, and the very notion of the present evaporates in the vast universe. — amazon.co.uk
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