Showing results for "The Essays" in Science

William James (1842 – 1910) was a groundbreaking American psychologist and philosopher whose work has left a lasting impact on the fields of psychology, education, and spirituality. His influential writings explore the intricacies of the human experience, touching on themes of pragmatism, religious experience, and mysticism. Essays in Radical Empiricism is a thought-provoking collection of his essays, carefully curated and published posthumously in 1912 by his colleague and biographer, Ralph Barton Perry. This compilation brings together a series of journal articles that James penned between...

In this groundbreaking collection of essays, renowned American philosopher John Dewey explores the limitations of idealistic, realistic, and analytic schools of thought, emphasizing the importance of a pragmatic and experimental approach to understanding experience. Unlike the abstract theorizing of coherentist and correspondence theories of logic, Dewey champions a perspective rooted in the tangible realities of science and everyday life. His insightful introduction lays the foundation for the naturalistic and process-oriented metaphysics that he elaborates on in later works like Experience ...

Dive into John Lockes profound exploration of human understanding, where he tackles the intriguing question What gives rise to ideas in our minds? In the first book, Locke boldly challenges the concept of innate ideas, engaging with rationalist claims that are often taken as universal truths. The second book delves deeper into the mechanisms of sensation, reflection, perception, and retention, unveiling how these elements contribute to the formation of simple ideas. Locke then illustrates how various modes, substances, and relationships among simple ideas culminate in the creation of complex ...

In the realm of psychology, the concept of imagination has often lingered in a semi-mythological state, evading clear scientific understanding. Traditionally viewed as an elusive quality reserved for the geniuses of society, imagination has been shrouded in mystique. Yet, as M. Ribot masterfully articulates, this notion is misleading. Imagination is not a celestial gift but a fundamental function of the human mind, present to varying degrees in everyone—from commercial innovators and pragmatic leaders to the most eccentric romantic dreamers. The key distinction lies not in the existence of ...

In this powerful essay, Joëlle Gergis, a leading climate scientist, depicts the likely future in vivid and credible detail. Working from the science, she discusses the world’s and Australia’s efforts to combat climate change. She outlines how far Australia is from keeping its promises to cut emissions. She takes aim at false solutions and the folly of “adaptation” rather than curbing fossil fuel use.

The world may have committed at Paris to hold back dangerous climate change, but Australia's fossil-fuel giant Woodside is doubling down: it has bold new plans to keep producing gas out to 2070. Support from the major parties is locked in, so something has to give. This is a story of power and influence, pollution and protest. How does one company capture a country? How convincing is Woodside's argument that gas is a necessary transition fuel, as the world decarbonises? And what is the new "energy realism" narrative being pushed by Trump's White House?

A seminal work of scientific and philosophical exploration. Ever since the Greeks coined the language we commonly use for scientific description, mythology and science have developed separately. But what if we could prove that all myths have one common origin in a celestial cosmology? What if the gods, the places they lived, and what they did are but ciphers for celestial activity, a language for the perpetuation of complex astronomical data?

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern audiences is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers. Here collected are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, ranging in subject matter from Alaska to Yellowstone, from Oregon to the High Sierra.

Griffith paints an inspiring yet practical picture of empowered local communities acting collectively when it comes to renewable energy, and benefiting financially. He considers both equity and security – an end to dependence on foreign oil, for instance. He explores the rejuvenation of regional Australia, as well as the rise of a new populist movement driven by Australian women. And he explodes once and for all the trees v. jobs binary. This is an electrifying essay about building a better world, one community at a time.

Dive into the enchanting world of Elia and The Last Essays of Elia, two captivating collections of essays by the talented Charles Lamb. First published in The London Magazine from 1820 to 1825, these essays quickly became beloved classics, delighting readers with their personal and conversational style. Lamb, who embodies the persona of Elia, shares his reflections alongside his sister Mary, affectionately dubbed Cousin Bridget. The name Elia is inspired by an old Italian clerk from Lambs workplace at the South-Sea House in the early 1790s. While some essays reference Lambs contemporaries and ...

This compelling anthology brings together a variety of intriguing perspectives from Bertrand Russell. In Mathematics and the Metaphysicians, Russell reflects on the transformative impact of the 1900 World Congress of Philosophers and his aspiration that innovative mathematical approaches could unravel age-old philosophical dilemmas. The ensuing essays trace the evolution of this vision as Russell delves into the foundations of mathematics, exploring how new methodologies could reconstruct our understanding of physical objects through sense-data and redefine concepts like matter and causation. ...

From the author of The Secret Knowledge of Water and Atlas of a Lost World comes a deeply felt essay collection focusing upon a vivid series of desert icons - a sheet of virga over Monument Valley, white seashells in dry desert sand, boulders impossibly balanced. Craig Childs delves into the primacy of the land and the profound nature of the more-than-human.

This collection of essays delves into a variety of thought-provoking topics, most of which are considered fragments from the early Seventies. Written primarily as prefaces, these pieces are not only intriguing but also reveal early insights into Nietzsches evolving ideas, such as Slave and Master morality and the concept of the Superman. Among the essays, Truth and Falsity and The Greek Woman stand out as particularly engaging for readers seeking to explore complex philosophical themes with a fresh perspective.

Predicting society’s present addiction to technology, our challenges with data privacy, and the dramatic increase in drug overdoses and depression that have accompanied a technology-induced lack of purpose, The Unabomber’s vision of the future has become our reality. Of course, his means were disgusting and condemnable. But his message is more important than ever. If we want to thrive in an age where automation and artificial intelligence and rapidly making humans obsolete, it is our responsibility to understand and prepare for the technological machine we are up against.

One of Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2025 A Goodreads Readers' Most Anticipated Fall Book From the New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Fuzz, a rollicking exploration of the quest to re-create the impossible complexities of human anatomy. The body is the most complex machine...

Dive into the intriguing world of psychology and crime with On the Witness Stand. This collection features eight captivating essays by a pioneering figure in applied psychology, exploring the complexities of the human mind, particularly how witnesses can often be unreliable. The final essay shifts focus to the prevention of crime, offering fresh insights into this critical issue. Join TriciaG as she guides you through these thought-provoking sketches that challenge our understanding of memory and justice.

John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) is celebrated not only as an art and social critic but also as a prolific author, poet, and artist. In Unto This Last, he presents profound insights into political economy that have left a lasting impact on thinkers like Gandhi. Discover the transformative ideas that challenge conventional economic thought. (Hugh McGuire/Wikipedia)

Nuclear proliferation, Zionism, and the global economy are just a few of the insightful and surprisingly prescient topics scientist Albert Einstein discusses in this volume of collected essays from between 1931 and 1950. Written with a clear voice and a thoughtful perspective on the effects of science, economics, and politics in daily life, Einstein’s writings provide an intriguing view inside the mind of a genius addressing the philosophical challenges presented during the turbulence of the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the dawn of the Cold War.

Future Science features 19 young scientists, most of whom are presenting their innovative work and ideas to a general audience for the first time. Featured in this collection are William McEwan, a virologist, discussing his research into the biology of antiviral immunity; Naomi Eisenberger, a neuroscientist, wondering how social rejection affects us physically; Jon Kleinberg, a computer scientist, showing what massive datasets can teach us about society and ourselves; and Anthony Aguirre, a physicist, who gives readers a tantalizing glimpse of infinity.

What is nature? What is humanity's place in nature? And what is the relationship of society to the natural world? In an era of ecological breakdown, answering these questions has become of momentous importance for our everyday lives and for the future that we and other life-forms face. In the essays of The Philosophy of Social Ecology, Murray Bookchin confronts these questions head on, invoking the ideas of mutualism, self-organization, and unity in diversity, in the service of ever-expanding freedom.