Descartes Bones
If reading this book has convinced me of anything, it's that the conflict between Faith and Reason has been going on for a LOT longer than I would have thought...and that people are just plain bug&*%# crazy.
It's a great read, but I expected it would be, being from Russel Shorto, who's 'Island at the Center of the World' was my X-mas present and spring reading. The detective story of the fate of the mortal remains of Renee Descartes is one part detective story, one part history of the Enlightenment and one party philosophical tract. Descartes philosophies are made doubly fascinating in how both pro-religious and anti-religious groups claim his as their own. The book not only concerns itself with Descartes body, but his ideas and how they would shape the world to come. Great stuff.
It's a great read, but I expected it would be, being from Russel Shorto, who's 'Island at the Center of the World' was my X-mas present and spring reading. The detective story of the fate of the mortal remains of Renee Descartes is one part detective story, one part history of the Enlightenment and one party philosophical tract. Descartes philosophies are made doubly fascinating in how both pro-religious and anti-religious groups claim his as their own. The book not only concerns itself with Descartes body, but his ideas and how they would shape the world to come. Great stuff.