Book Summaries
Modesty (The Lessons of History)
The first lesson that Durant reveals to us is modesty. Two scientific revolutions forced us to be modest, the Copernican revolution, and the Darwinian revolution.
The first lesson that Durant reveals to us is modesty. Two scientific revolutions forced us to be modest, the Copernican revolution, and the Darwinian revolution. Copernicus told us that we are not the center of the universe, and Darwin told us that we are merely highly evolved animals, but animals nonetheless.
What we think of as the most meaningful and important, our human lives is really, the accidental by-product of the grand forces of nature. And these forces exist within us, and around us, for all life is the struggle for existence, and the survival of the fittest.
It is impossible to have a total perspective on history. The best we can aim towards is partial knowledge. It is dangerous to think that within 30 to 40 years of studying, man can judge and subvert the collective wisdom of the human race, to question its tradition and motivation.
People like to think they are a little special, but of course, this is a delusion. Yet we need it to progress. Without this bit of vanity, we might find it harder to push forward. Delusion is a powerful motivator.
YARPP List
Related posts:
- 21 Lessons for the 21st Century Summary (7/10)
- The Epicureans (A History of Western Philosophy)
- Leibnitz (A History of Western Philosophy)
- Locke (A History of Western Philosophy)
Keep Reading
Related Articles
Book Summaries
Marcion (Dominion)
*Marcion was a Christian from the Black Sea coast, a wealthy shipping magnate whose arrival in Rome some four decades before Irenaeus travelled there had generated a sensation.
Book Summaries
How to Read Bart D. Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the development of early Christianity. His works have been both influential and controversial, provoking thought and debate among scholars and the general public alike.
Book Summaries
Antony Garrett Lisi (What to think about machines that think)
Antony Garrett Lisi argues that as machines become sentient, they will compete for resources in a Darwinian manner, but not necessarily in a way harmful to humans. He likens future AI entities to corporations, which are already autonomous entities that operate within legal frameworks.
Book Summaries
Creativity
- The War of Art– Steven Pressfield –Summary - Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step – Edward de Bono –Summary - Mastery– Robert Greene –Summary - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain –Summary - Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise– Anders Er