False Truths (eBook)

The Error of Relying on Authority

Edward C. Mendler (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2014
180 Seiten
Hamilton Books (Verlag)
978-0-7618-6300-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Mendler contends that many of the beliefs, tenets, conclusions, and understandings that are widely accepted as “truths” are, in fact, not valid at all. He asserts that we should challenge them all — from Plato on to contemporary theorists in all of those fields — and analyze every element of their conclusions.

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In False Truths, Edward C. Mendler contends that many of the beliefs, tenets, conclusions, and understandings that are widely accepted as ';truths' are, in fact, not valid at all. Such dubious and false concepts arise not only in philosophy and theology but also under the rubrics of cosmology, quantum physics, democracy, freedom, economics, and various aspects of ';human nature' and evolution. We accept and absorb these false ideas because they were and are propounded by ';authorities,' both ancient and modern. Mendler asserts that we should challenge them all from Plato on to contemporary theorists in all of those fields and question and analyze every element of their conclusions.

Autor

Edward C. Mendler grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He served as a Navy radio technician in Guam during the Bikini A-bomb tests in 1946. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School, from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University (magna cum laude), and from Harvard Law School. Mendler practiced law in Boston for fifty years. He has studied and written about philosophy, science, law, and government as well as fiction.

Inhalt

List of IllustrationsPrefaceCHAPTER ONE: RELIANCE ON AUTHORITYOriginsConsequencesCHAPTER TWO: THE STORY OF BELIEFSHow the Ancient Greeks Misled UsThe Middle Ages MuddleWe Were Not EnlightenedCHAPTER THREE: THE PERSISTENCE OF OLD IDEASOld and NewJacques MaritainPope John Paul IIJohn PolkinghorneCHAPTER FOUR: THE ERROR OF DUALISMCausationEpistemologyCHAPTER FIVE: FAITH AND ANTI-FAITHFaithAntifaith — Fair and FoulCHAPTER SIX: PHYSICS AND MYSTERYCosmologyWaves, Particles, QuantaCHAPTER SEVEN: BIOLOGY AND MYSTERYThe Basics of EvolutionThe Burgess ShaleConsciousnessHumans and AnimalsThe Origin of LifeCHAPTER EIGHT: MINDThe Awesome BrainFree Will and FoolishnessNeuroscience — New UnderstandingsCHAPTER NINE: EQUALITY, DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOMEqualityDemocracyFreedomCHAPTER TEN: ENTERPRISE, PLANNING, FREEDOM AND WELFAREThe Basics of EconomicsEnterprise and PlanningWelfare and GridlockCHAPTER ELEVEN: CONCLUSIONSIndex

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.3.2014
• Zusatzinfo: 9 Illustrations including: - 2 Black & White Illustrations; - 7 Halftones, Black & White including Black & White Photographs.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Ethik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Logik
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Volkswirtschaftslehre ► Wirtschaftspolitik
• Schlagworte: Authorities are often unreliable • Dubious beliefs persist • false truths • How do you know what you think you know • Human nature • Plato was wrong! • relying on authority • Scientists guesses aren't "truth" • What is human nature • Why do you believe that
• ISBN-10: 0-7618-6300-1 / 0761863001
• ISBN-13: 978-0-7618-6300-7 / 9780761863007