Supinder’s Reviews > The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind > Status Update
Supinder
is on page 223 of 368
Discussion of Francis Bacon, the author makes a good case that Bacon was the first modern scientist, relying on empirical evidence rather than superstition. A treatise also on Vanini who was burnt and executed for his atheism in France. The author is in his element, the book no longer reads as a turgid summary of the wars of the middle ages.
— Dec 31, 2017 03:47PM
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Supinder’s Previous Updates
Supinder
is on page 249 of 368
Exposition of the influence of Aristotelian thought in Christianity and it's impact on natural science. The concept of the world being composed of fire, air, earth, water and the quintessence - the eather.
— Jan 07, 2018 02:48AM
Supinder
is on page 235 of 368
Fascinating detail which summarises the axioms Descartes formalised. That of scepticism; that one cannot trust empirical data as humans suffer from hallucination, one cannot differentiate between a dream and reality, and one can doubt everything apart from ones doubt in their own existence.
— Jan 01, 2018 04:10AM
Supinder
is on page 212 of 368
Being initially confused as to why Grayling discussed the political machinations of the religious wars between the Hapsburgs, the German states, Boehmia, France, United Dutch Territories etc. before then chronologically going back to discuss the history of ideas focusing on John Dee, Descartes, Bacon, Mersenne etc.; it now makes sense. Having framed the backdrop of Europe at the time, it becomes easier to see ideas.
— Dec 28, 2017 02:33PM