The age of genius : the seventeenth century and the birth of the modern mind / A.C. Grayling.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Grayling, A. C., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--History.

Science.

History.

Civilization, Modern--17th century.

Civilization, Modern.

War--History.

War.

Seventeenth century.

Europe--Intellectual life--17th century.

Europe.

Intellectual life.

Europe--History--17th century.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

x, 351 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), map, portraits ; 25 cm

Edition:

First U.S. edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Bloomsbury, 2016.

Summary:

"Explores the eventful intertwining of outward event and inner intellectual life to tell, in all its richness and depth, the story of the 17th century in Europe. It was a time of creativity unparalleled in history before or since, from science to the arts, from philosophy to politics ... Grayling points to three primary factors [behind this epochal shift]: the rise of vernacular (popular) languages in philosophy, theology, science, and literature; the rise of the individual as a general and not merely an aristocratic type; and the invention and application of instruments and measurement in the study of the natural world"--Amazon.com.

Contents:

Introduction. Seeing the universe ; The epoch in human history

A time of wars. The origins of the wars ; The loss of the Palatinate ; The mercenary captains ; The Edict of Restitution, 1629

The Swedish apogee ; From Wallenstein to Breisach ; Towards Westphalia ; In the ruins of Europe ; The maritime conflicts

The cumulation of ideas. The intelligencers ; The short ways to knowledge ; Dr Dee and the potent art ; The Rosicrucian scare

From magic to science. From magic to method ; The birth of science ; War and science

The social order. Society and politics ; Language and belief

Conclusion. Is it a myth?

Notes:

"First published in Great Britain, 2016"--Title-page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [325]-340) and index.

ISBN:

9781620403440

1620403447

OCLC:

907966069