Overview

Flipping convention on its head, Eric Dietrich argues that science uncovers awe-inspiring, enduring mysteries, while religion, regarded as the source for such mysteries, is a biological phenomenon. Just like spoken language, Dietrich shows that religion is an evolutionary adaptation. Science is the source of perplexing yet beautiful mysteries, however natural the search for answers may be to human existence. Excellent Beauty undoes our misconception of scientific inquiry as an executioner of beauty, making the case that science has won the battle with religion so thoroughly it can now explain why religion persists. The book also draws deep lessons for human flourishing from the very existence of scientific mysteries. It is these latter wonderful, completely public truths that constitute some strangeness in the proportion, revealing a universe worthy of awe and wonder.

Full Product Details

Author:   Eric Dietrich
Publisher:   Columbia University Press
Imprint:   Columbia University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.411kg
ISBN:  

9780231171021

ISBN 10:   0231171021
Pages:   208
Publication Date:   09 June 2015
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.
Language:   English

Table of Contents

Author's Note Acknowledgments Who's in Charge of the World's Mysteries? 1. The Traveler to Excellent Beauty: Invited Rather Than Drafted Part I. Of Spiritual Journeys 2. What Is a Religion? 3. The One Billion 4. The Traveler's Dark Night of the Soul Appendix to Chapter 4: Statistics and Probability Meet Job Part II. The Biology of Religion, the Psychology of Morality 5. Justifying the Ways of God to Man via Evolution Appendix to Chapter 5: Yes, There Really Is Such a Thing as a Coincidence 6. Does God Want You Dead? 7. Good Without Gods Part III. The Journey in Tatters 8. Beyond Atheism: The Religion Illusion 9. The Janus-Faced Hominid Part IV. Ther Heretic's Way: Into the Mysterious Realm 10. Some Strangeness in the Proportion Appendix to Chapter 10: A Compendium of Mysteries 11. The Beauty of Seeing More Than We Can Understand Appendix to Chapter 11: Welcome to the Inscrutable 12. The Personal Mystery and the Impersonal God 13. Summa Mysteriologica Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

Excellent Beauty boldly breaks the code of silence that keeps coolly rational academics from attempting to link evolution and theology. Dietrich reflects on some of the deepest mysteries of religious thought, but he does so from the viewpoint of a philosopher with deep training in logic and firmly grounded reasoning. -- John Sullins, Sonoma State University This is, quite simply, one ofthe most eloquent books on religion and science I have read in recentyears. Dietrich writes clearly and accessibly, with a touchof humor and a great deal of personality. His book moves fluidly betweenhistorically supported arguments and pedagogically minded examples, allpresented in a limpid style that will be attractive to the general reader. -- William Egginton, The Johns Hopkins University

Author Information

Eric Dietrich is professor of philosophy at Binghamton University and the founding editor and current editor in chief of the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence. He is the author of numerous papers and several books focusing on cognitive science, consciousness, artificial intelligence, metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind.

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