Issue: Religion and philosophy

From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: Understanding and Questioning Western Intellectual History

From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: Understanding and Questioning Western Intellectual History

Posted by | Sep 1, 2023 | , , , |

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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1.11: Scientific Naturalism

1.11: Scientific Naturalism

Posted by | Aug 21, 2023 |

Resources on the page concern the philosophical position of scientific materialism, which asserts that the physical world is the ultimate reality and that physical processes can explain all phenomena. After our discussions on the mind and AI, we can explore different philosophical perspectives on the nature of reality and the limitations of scientific materialism in explaining subjective experiences, consciousness, and spirituality.

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1.05: The Roots of Modern Science

1.05: The Roots of Modern Science

Posted by | Mar 12, 2023 | |

The roots of modern science reach backwards in time to before the great age of Greek and Hellenistic learning, and spread across Europe, Islamic empires, India and China. This article will review how the ideas of the Medieval and Renaissance periods nourished those roots.

This page contains links to resources used for Module 5 of the Shepway u3a course in Science, Philosophy and Spirituality

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The Roots of Modern Science

The Roots of Modern Science

Posted by | Mar 10, 2023 | , , |

The roots of modern science reach backwards in time to before the great age of Greek and Hellenistic learning, and spread across Europe, Islamic empires, India and China. This article will review how the ideas of the Medieval and Renaissance periods nourished those roots.

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1.04: The Rise and Fall of Christendom

1.04: The Rise and Fall of Christendom

Posted by | Feb 17, 2023 | |

Under the aegis of the Roman Empire, early Christianity morphed into Christendom and incorporated ideas from Greek philosophy. These composite ideas spawned the ‘natural philosophy’ that later became modern science. The Black Death, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment nurtured science and simultaneously planted the seeds of Christendom’s destruction.

In Europe, and consequently in America after its colonization by Europeans, Christendom helped shape the culture from which the world as we know it today emerged.

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