Between Two Worlds - Memoirs of a Philosopher-Scientist

To go through the pages of the Autobiography of Mario Bunge is to accompany him through dozens of countries and examine the intellectual, political, philosophical and scientific spheres of the last hundred years. It is an experience that oscillates between two different worlds: the different and the similar, the professional and the personal.
It is an established fact that one of his great loves was, and still is, science. He has always been dedicated to scientific work, teaching, research, and training men and women in multiple disciplines. Life lessons fall like ripe fruit from this book, bringing us closer to a concept, a philosophical idea, a scientific digression, which had since been uncovered in numerous notes, articles or books.
Bunge writes about the life experiences in this book with passion, naturalness and with a colloquial frankness, whether they be persecutions, banishment, imprisonment, successes, would-be losses, emotions, relationships, debates, impressions or opinions about people or things.
In his pages we pass by the people with whom he shared a fruitful century of achievements and incredible depths of thought. Everything is remembered with sincerity and humor.
This autobiography is, in truth, Bunge on Bunge, sharing everything that passes through the sieve of his memory, as he would say.

Mario's many grandchildren are a testament to his proud standing as a family man, and at the age of 96 he gives us a book for everyone: for those who value the memories that hold the trauma of his life as well as for those who share his passion for science and culture. Also, perhaps, for some with whom he has had disagreements or controversy, for he still deserves recognition for being a staunch defender of his convictions.

List of contents

1. Childhood.- 2. Adolescence.- 3. University et alia.- 4. Scientific Apprenticeship.- 5. Philosophical Apprenticeship.- 6. First jobs.- 7. Itinerant Professor.- 8. Canada and Scientific Realism.- 9. Exact Philosophy.- 10. Systemic Materialism.- 11. Biophilosophy.- 12. Psychoneural Monism.- 13. Social Philosophy.- 14. Weird Ideas, Strange Places, Freak Events.- 15. Practical Philosophy.- 16. Summary.- 17. Appendix by Marta Bunge: My Life with Mario.- 18. References.

About the author

Mario Bunge is a renowned and celebrated academic and philosopher. He is originally from Argentina, but has been active in Canada since the mid 1960's. At 95 years of age, he has a PhD in physico-mathematical sciences,, sixteen honorary doctorates and four honorary professorships. His current researches revolves around philosophy of the social sciences, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics.

Summary

To go through the pages of the Autobiography of Mario Bunge is to accompany him through dozens of countries and examine the intellectual, political, philosophical and scientific spheres of the last hundred years. It is an experience that oscillates between two different worlds: the different and the similar, the professional and the personal.
It is an established fact that one of his great loves was, and still is, science. He has always been dedicated to scientific work, teaching, research, and training men and women in multiple disciplines.  Life lessons fall like ripe fruit from this book, bringing us closer to a concept, a philosophical idea, a scientific digression, which had since been uncovered in numerous notes, articles or books.
Bunge writes about the life experiences in this book with passion, naturalness and with a colloquial frankness, whether they be persecutions, banishment, imprisonment, successes, would-be losses, emotions, relationships, debates, impressions or opinions about people or things.
In his pages we pass by the people with whom he shared a fruitful century of achievements and incredible depths of thought. Everything is remembered with sincerity and humor.
This autobiography is, in truth, Bunge on Bunge, sharing everything that passes through the sieve of his memory, as he would say.

Mario’s many grandchildren are a testament to his proud standing as a family man, and at the age of 96 he gives us a book for everyone: for those who value the memories that hold the trauma of his life as well as for those who share his passion for science and culture. Also, perhaps, for some with whom he has had disagreements or controversy, for he still deserves recognition for being a staunch defender of his convictions.

Additional text

“The book is filled with references to family members and includes over thirty pages of historical family photographs. Two Worlds is a highly readable account of the life and times of a distinguished scholar, a remarkable man whose intellectual curiosity and determination could not be dampened by the overwhelming repressiveness of the fascist Perónist regime. Kudos to Mario Bunge for memoirs well-written and for a life, both personal and academic, still being well-lived at ninety-seven.” (James E. Alcock, Skeptical Inquirer, January-February, 2017)

“This 500-page Memoirs is a delightful and informative read, not just about the life of Bunge, but about much of twentieth century philosophy of science. … This is a lovely account of what constitutes a good school science teacher; and it is doubtful if, after the subsequent millions of educational publications, anything better and clearer has been written. If transposed to the university level, and elaborated, it well-fits Mario Bunge the physicist-philosopher as revealed in these Memoirs.” (Michael R. Matthews, Science and Education, Vol. 25, 2016)

Report

"The book is filled with references to family members and includes over thirty pages of historical family photographs. Two Worlds is a highly readable account of the life and times of a distinguished scholar, a remarkable man whose intellectual curiosity and determination could not be dampened by the overwhelming repressiveness of the fascist Perónist regime. Kudos to Mario Bunge for memoirs well-written and for a life, both personal and academic, still being well-lived at ninety-seven." (James E. Alcock, Skeptical Inquirer, January-February, 2017)
"This 500-page Memoirs is a delightful and informative read, not just about the life of Bunge, but about much of twentieth century philosophy of science. ... This is a lovely account of what constitutes a good school science teacher; and it is doubtful if, after the subsequent millions of educational publications, anything better and clearer has been written. If transposed to the university level, and elaborated, it well-fits Mario Bunge the physicist-philosopher as revealed in these Memoirs." (Michael R. Matthews, Science and Education, Vol. 25, 2016)

Product details

• Authors: Mario Bunge
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2018
• EAN: 9783319805221
• ISBN: 978-3-31-980522-1
• No. of pages: 496
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 237 mm x 24 mm
• Weight: 868 g
• Illustrations: XVIII, 496 p. 54 illus., 35 illus. in color.
• Series: Springer Biographies; Springer Biographies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; B, popular science, Philosophy, Arts, Philosophy of Science, History of Philosophy, Humanities, Modern philosophy: since c 1800, Philosophische Traditionen und Denkschulen, Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and science, History of philosophy, philosophical traditions, Modern Philosophy, Popular Science in Humanities / Arts