The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination“A gem of enlightenment. . . . One rejoices in Bronowski’s dedication to the identity of acts of creativity and of imagination, whether in Blake or Yeats or Einstein or Heisenberg.”—Kirkus Reviews “According to Bronowski, our account of the world is dictated by our biology: how we perceive, imagine, symbolize, etc. He proposes to explain how we receive and translate our experience of the world so that we achieve knowledge. He examines the mechanisms of our perception; the origin and nature of natural language; formal systems and scientific discourse; and how science, as a systematic attempt to establish closed systems one after another, progresses by exploring its own errors and new but unforeseen connections. . . . A delightful look at the inquiring mind.”—Library Journal “Eminently enjoyable to read, with a good story or ‘bon mot’ on every page.”—Nature “A well-written and brilliantly presented defense of the scientific enterprise which could be especially valuable to scientists and to teachers of science at all levels.”—AAAS Science Books & Films Contents 1. The Mind as an Instrument for Understanding 2. The Evolution and Power of Symbolic Language 3. Knowledge as Algorithm and as Metaphor 4. The Laws of Nature and the Nature of Laws 5. Error, Progress, and the Concept of Time 6. Law and Individual Responsibility |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - GlennBell - LibraryThingThis book was written as a series of six lectures by the author. It was written around 50 years ago. The lofty title of the book seems inappropriate for the somewhat blase information provided. I am ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - ElectricRay - LibraryThingIt isn't clear how Jacob Bronowski came to be delivering the Silliman lectures for 1967 at Yale University, but in doing so he delivered a marvellous and, apparently, criminally overlooked book which ... Read full review
Contents
The Evolution and Power of Symbolic Language | |
Knowledge as Algorithm and as Metaphor | |
The Laws of Nature and the Nature of Laws | |
Error Progress and the Concept of Time | |
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Common terms and phrases
able actually animal answer axioms become believe brain called clear closed concepts connected consistent course decoding discovered discovery Einstein errors essentially everything evolution exactly example experiment explanation fact formal give goes going grammar gravitation human human language idea imagination important instance interpretation invented kind knowledge language lecture living look machine mass mathematics means mechanism mind namely nature never Newton Nicholas of Cusa objects once ourselves paradox person philosophy phrase physical picture piece play practice problem prove question reason regard relativity Russell scientific scientists seems sense sentences signals simple society speech statements structure suppose symbolism talk tell theorem theory thing thought true truth trying turn universe vision visual whole write wrong
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination The Silliman Memorial Lectures Series |
| Author | Jacob Bronowski |
| Edition | revised |
| Publisher | Yale University Press, 2008 |
| ISBN | 0300157185, 9780300157185 |
| Length | 268 pages |
| Subjects | › › Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General Philosophy / Epistemology Psychology / Creative Ability |
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