Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary
Recovering the forgotten discipline of Natural Philosophy for the modern world

This book argues for the retrieval of 'natural philosophy', a concept that faded into comparative obscurity as individual scientific disciplines became established and institutionalized. Natural philosophy was understood in the early modern period as a way of exploring the human relationship with the natural world, encompassing what would now be seen as the distinct disciplines of the natural sciences, mathematics, music, philosophy, and theology.

The first part of the work represents a critical conversation with the tradition, identifying the essential characteristics of natural philosophy, particularly its emphasis on both learning about and learning from nature. After noting the factors which led to the disintegration of natural philosophy during the nineteenth century, the second part of the work sets out the reasons why natural philosophy should be retrieved, and a creative and innovative proposal for how this might be done. This draws on Karl Popper's 'Three Worlds' and Mary Midgley's notion of using multiple maps in bringing together the many aspects of the human encounter with the natural world. Such a retrieved or 're-imagined' natural philosophy is able to encourage both human attentiveness and respectfulness towards Nature, while enfolding both the desire to understand the natural world, and the need to preserve the affective, imaginative, and aesthetic aspects of the human response to nature.
1141683698
Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary
Recovering the forgotten discipline of Natural Philosophy for the modern world

This book argues for the retrieval of 'natural philosophy', a concept that faded into comparative obscurity as individual scientific disciplines became established and institutionalized. Natural philosophy was understood in the early modern period as a way of exploring the human relationship with the natural world, encompassing what would now be seen as the distinct disciplines of the natural sciences, mathematics, music, philosophy, and theology.

The first part of the work represents a critical conversation with the tradition, identifying the essential characteristics of natural philosophy, particularly its emphasis on both learning about and learning from nature. After noting the factors which led to the disintegration of natural philosophy during the nineteenth century, the second part of the work sets out the reasons why natural philosophy should be retrieved, and a creative and innovative proposal for how this might be done. This draws on Karl Popper's 'Three Worlds' and Mary Midgley's notion of using multiple maps in bringing together the many aspects of the human encounter with the natural world. Such a retrieved or 're-imagined' natural philosophy is able to encourage both human attentiveness and respectfulness towards Nature, while enfolding both the desire to understand the natural world, and the need to preserve the affective, imaginative, and aesthetic aspects of the human response to nature.
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Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary

Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary

by Alister McGrath
Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary

Natural Philosophy: On Retrieving a Lost Disciplinary Imaginary

by Alister McGrath

Hardcover

$43.99 
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Overview

Recovering the forgotten discipline of Natural Philosophy for the modern world

This book argues for the retrieval of 'natural philosophy', a concept that faded into comparative obscurity as individual scientific disciplines became established and institutionalized. Natural philosophy was understood in the early modern period as a way of exploring the human relationship with the natural world, encompassing what would now be seen as the distinct disciplines of the natural sciences, mathematics, music, philosophy, and theology.

The first part of the work represents a critical conversation with the tradition, identifying the essential characteristics of natural philosophy, particularly its emphasis on both learning about and learning from nature. After noting the factors which led to the disintegration of natural philosophy during the nineteenth century, the second part of the work sets out the reasons why natural philosophy should be retrieved, and a creative and innovative proposal for how this might be done. This draws on Karl Popper's 'Three Worlds' and Mary Midgley's notion of using multiple maps in bringing together the many aspects of the human encounter with the natural world. Such a retrieved or 're-imagined' natural philosophy is able to encourage both human attentiveness and respectfulness towards Nature, while enfolding both the desire to understand the natural world, and the need to preserve the affective, imaginative, and aesthetic aspects of the human response to nature.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780192865731
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 02/10/2023
Pages: 258
Product dimensions: 9.48(w) x 6.41(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Alister McGrath, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford

bAlister McGrath/b studied theology at Oxford and Cambridge, following undergraduate studies in chemistry, and a doctorate in molecular biophysics at Oxford University. He was Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University from 1999-2008, and now serves as the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford, with a special interest in the interdisciplinary field of natural philosophy.

Table of Contents

Introduction: On Retrieving Natural PhilosophyPart One: A Critical Conversation with the Tradition1. The Origins of Natural Philosophy: Aristotle2. The Consolidation of Natural Philosophy: The Middle Ages3. Skywatching: The Natural Philosophy of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo4. English Natural Philosophy: Bacon, Boyle, and Newton5. The Parting of the Ways: From Natural Philosophy to Natural SciencePart Two: A Reconceived Natural Philosophy: Exploring a Disciplinary Imaginary6. Reconceiving Natural Philosophy: Laying the Foundations7. Theory: The Contemplation of Nature8. Objectivity: Understanding the External World9. Subjectivity: An Affective Engagement with Nature10. Natural Philosophy: Recasting a VisionAcknowledgementsWorks ConsultedIndex
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