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When young children first begin to ask 'why?' they embark on a journey with no final destination. The need to make sense of the world as a whole is an ultimate curiosity that lies at the root of all human religions. It has, in many cultures, shaped and motivated a more down to earth scientific interest in the physical world, which could therefore be described as penultimate curiosity. These two manifestations of curiosity have a history of connection that goes back deep into the human past. Tracing that history all the way from cave painting to quantum physics, this book (a collaboration between a painter and a physical scientist that uses illustrations throughout the narrative) sets out to explain the nature of the long entanglement between religion and science: the ultimate and the penultimate curiosity.
This book investigates the historical and conceptual entanglement between the human drive for ultimate meaning, traditionally found in religion, and the pursuit of scientific understanding regarding the physical world. The authors, a physical scientist and a painter, argue that these two forms of curiosity are not mutually exclusive but are deeply intertwined. By examining the development of human thought from prehistoric art to modern quantum mechanics, they propose that scientific inquiry often operates within the framework of broader existential questions.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Critics and readers frequently note the unique interdisciplinary approach, which balances scientific rigor with artistic insight. Experts highlight this as a thoughtful contribution to the dialogue between science and religion, noting its accessibility to readers interested in the history of ideas.
Page Count:
512
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191075701
ISBN-13:
9780191075704
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