The Hedgehog, The Fox, and the Magister's Pox by Stephen Jay Gould
The latest book from the most celebrated popular science writer in the world. Gould uses the centuries- old conflict between science and the humanities- between the notion of relying solely on experiment and that of reason and imagination- to delve into burning scientific issues of the past and present.
Completed shortly before his death, this is the last work of science from the most celebrated popular science writer in the world. In characteristic form, Gould weaves the ideas of some of Western society's greatest thinkers, from Bacon to Galileo to E. O. Wilson, with the uncelebrated ideas of lesser- known yet pivotal intellectuals. He uses their ides to undo an assumption born in the seventeenth century and continuing to this day, that science and the humanities stand in opposition.
Gould uses the metaphor of the hedgehog- who goes after one thing at a measured pace, systematically investigating all; the fox- skilled at many things, intuitive and fast; and the magister's pox- a censure form the Catholic Church involved in Galileo's downfall- a metaphor which illustrates the different ways of responding to knowledge- in a scientific, humanistic or fearful way. He argues that in fact each would benefit by borrowing from the other.
Format: Paperback | 288 pages
Dimensions (cm): 19.8 x 12.9 x 2.2 | 268g
Publication Date: 03 May 2004
Publisher: Random House
Imprint: Vintage Books
Publication City/Country: London, United Kingdom
Language: English
Illustrations note: b&w illustrations
Edition Number: 1
ISBN10: 0099440822
ISBN13: 9780099440826
Condition: Good
A vintage book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including very, very minor scuff marks along the edges, and a very minor crease on the bottom-left corner of the back cover, but no holes or tears. The majority of pages are undamaged with very, very minimal creasing but no tearing. No pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. No missing pages.