| Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason Contributor(s): Shorto, Russell (Author) |
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ISBN: 0307275663 ISBN-13: 9780307275660 Publisher: Vintage OUR PRICE: $19.95 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2009 Annotation: NATIONAL BESTSELLER A "New York Times" Notable Book Sixteen years after Rene Descartes' death in Stockholm in 1650, a pious French ambassador exhumed the remains of the controversial philosopher to transport them back to Paris. Thus began a 350-year saga that saw Descartes' bones traverse a continent, passing between kings, philosophers, poets, and painters. But as Russell Shorto shows in this deeply engaging book, Descartes' bones also played a role in some of the most momentous episodes in history, which are also part of the philosopher's metaphorical remains: the birth of science, the rise of democracy, and the earliest debates between reason and faith. Descartes' Bones is a flesh-and-blood story about the battle between religion and rationalism that rages to this day. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Modern - 17th Century - Religion | Religion & Science - Philosophy | History & Surveys - General |
| Dewey: 194 |
| Physical Information: 0.69" H x 5.28" W x 7.98" (0.70 lbs) 336 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Modern |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Sixteen years after Ren Descartes' death in Stockholm in 1650, a pious French ambassador exhumed the remains of the controversial philosopher to transport them back to Paris. Thus began a 350-year saga that saw Descartes' bones traverse a continent, passing between kings, philosophers, poets, and painters. But as Russell Shorto shows in this deeply engaging book, Descartes' bones also played a role in some of the most momentous episodes in history, which are also part of the philosopher's metaphorical remains: the birth of science, the rise of democracy, and the earliest debates between reason and faith. Descartes' Bones is a flesh-and-blood story about the battle between religion and rationalism that rages to this day. A New York Times Notable Book |