Jacob Bronowski

Adapted from the Bampton lectures delivered by the author at Columbia University shortly before his death, Bronowski here is concerned with the humanistic side of science. He emphasizes not only the idea that science is a human enterprise but that science and humanism have grown side by side and jointly since the Renaissance. In particular, he argues that the death of magic between 1500-1700 played a major role in the development of science and humanism.

This is intellectual history in the largest sense, not confined to ideas in one or a few fields, but covering the whole spectrum of Western intellectual activity during the four centuries when the world was transformed from medieval to modern. An important feature of the book is its stress on the interplay of ideas from different fields. In particular, the authors give more attention than is usual to the ideas of science, to the movements of literary style, and to the innovations in the arts. This is a profound and evocative history of the life of ideas in their full setting: of men, of groups of men, of events.

Discusses science as a characteristic part of human activity and as an effort to render the world predictable.

TURN A BLIND EYE, Does science have a conscience? BUILDING BETTER BABIES, Should we approve test-tube genetics? COLOR ME DIFFERENT, Is there a superior race? KILL AND OVERKILL, The Bomb - whose responsibility? MAN ON THE MOON, The pay-off - scientific or political? LEARN, BABY, LEARN, Compulsory up-dating - for professionals, too? SHOULD THEY OR SHOULDN’T THEY? Mercy killing - who shall judge? BEND, STAPLE, AND MUTILATE, Is the state taking us over? By: Jacob Bronowski, Malcolm Muggeridge, James Eayrs, Margaret W. Thompson, William E. Beckel, Walter Goldschmidt, Edmund Carpenter, Norman Z. Alcock, Ralph E. Lapp, John C. Polanyi, Donald G. Ivey, Alfred J. Ayer, David V. Bates, Peter A. Rechnitzer, Elie Cass. Patrick Watson/Moderator.

Presents the never-ending life cycle of a carbon atom from its birth in a star billions of years ago to the present time where it perhaps is a part of your body.

Contains essays on art and culture.

Contains primary source material.

Traces the development of science and the discoveries that have made man unique among animal species.

Contains lectures given by Bronowski on the role of science in the intellectual and moral life of man.