Revolution in Science How Galileo and Darwin Changed Our World

About this book

This is the compelling story of the two biggest events in the evolution of ideas: the revolutions of Galileo and Darwin. The ideological shifts that resulted from their work were crucial not only to science. Their impact on society and culture has been equally decisive up to the current century. Mark Brake captures the adventure and excitement of these two scientists - one who overturned humanity's central place in the universe and another who challenged the very notion of the origins of humankind. Their discoveries in a sense became "weapons of science," that challenged the long-held views of creation and human origins promoted by the Church for centuries. At a time when creationism and intelligent design are again in the news, this is a timely examination of the ways in which faith and science clash, and how the battle for "truth" is a perennial one.

Contents

Introduction PART I: WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS Greek Sky: The World Before the Telescope Heaven and Earth The Darkness Rising PART II: THE GATHERING STORM The Medieval Sky The Great Chain of Being PART III: THE REVOLUTIONS: THE WEAPONS OF DISCOVERY The Telescope and Galileo Evolution and Darwin PART IV: THE AFTERMATH: WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN The 'Galileo' Aftermath The 'Darwin' Aftermath PART V: THE PRESTIGE The Kudos

Customer Reviews

Biography

MARK BRAKE is Director of the Science Communication Research Unit at the University of Glamorgan in Wales, UK. He has served as science consultant to Microsoft and was a founding member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute science communication group. He is the author of Different Engines: How Science Drives Fiction and Fiction Drives Science (2007) and Futureworld: Where Science Fiction Becomes Science (2008). He lives in Wales, United Kingdom.