The Myths We Live By / Edition 1

by Mary Midgley

Overview

Mary Midgley argues in her powerful new book that far from being the opposite of science, myth is a central part of it. In brilliant prose, she claims that myths are neither lies nor mere stories but a network of powerful symbols that suggest particular ways of interpreting the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415340779
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/10/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	822,686
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mary Midgley (1919-2018) was a moral philosopher and the author of many books including Wickedness, Evolution as a Religion (both Routledge Classics), The Ethical Primate, Science as Salvation, Utopias, Dolphins and Computers, and Science and Poetry. All are published by Routledge.

Table of 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

Editorial Reviews

'For those who haven't yet read Midgley, these essays are an excellent place to start.' - Jon Turney, The Guardian

'An elegant and sane little book. Unusually for a philosopher, Midgley has a superb ear for the use and misuse of language.' - Edward Skidelsky, New Statesman

'She has, perhaps, the sharpest perception of any living thinker of the dangerous extremism that lurks behind so much contemporary scientistic discourse ... Merely as anthologies of contemporary folly, Midgley's books are essential reading ... we have Mary Midgley among us. We should pay attention and be grateful.' - Brian Appleyard, The Sunday Times

'[Mary Midgley's] latest book is full of good sense and illumination on many topics ... Midgley's pathbreaking efforts should be warmly welcomed.' - The Philosopher's Magazine

'Mary's voice, sane, clear and brooking no nonsense, speaks crisply from every page, debunking scientific and non-scientific pretensions alike. A chapter each evening will help me keep sane.' - The Sunday Times

'Christian readers will be sympathetic and find much material for helpful reflection on the topics chosen.' - The Gospel and Our Culture Network

From the Publisher