The Myths We Live By

by Mary Midgley

Overview

Britain's foremost living philosopher argues that myth, far from being in opposition to, is actually part and parcel of science. According to Midgley, myths are neither lies nor stories, but a network of powerful symbols that suggest particular ways of interpreting the world. In this interpretation she demolishes three of our most potent myths: the myth of the social contract, the myth of progress, and the myth of science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136807527
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/01/2011
Series:	Routledge Classics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	278
File size:	484 KB

About the Author

Mary Midgley (1919-2018) was a moral philosopher and the author of many books including Wickedness, Evolution as a Religion, Beast and Man and Science and Poetry. All are published in Routledge Classics.

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