Descartes' Bones
A Skeletal History of the Conflict between Faith and Reason
Nonfiction, History, Modern, 17th Century, Science & Nature, Science, Other Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy
| Author: | Russell Shorto | ISBN: | 9780385528375 |
| Publisher: | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group | Publication: | October 14, 2008 |
| Imprint: | Vintage | Language: | English |
| Author: | Russell Shorto |
| ISBN: | 9780385528375 |
| Publisher: | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group |
| Publication: | October 14, 2008 |
| Imprint: | Vintage |
| Language: | English |
Sixteen years after René 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
Sixteen years after René 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
