The Myths We Live By

With a new Introduction by the author'An elegant and sane little book. - The New StatesmanMyths, as Mary Midgley argues in this powerful book, are everywhere. In political thought they sit at the heart of theories of human nature and the social contract; in economics in the pursuit of self interest; and in science the idea of human beings as machines, which originates in the seventeenth century, is a today a potent force. Far from being the opposite of science, however, Midgley argues that myth is a central part of it. Myths are neither lies nor mere stories but a network of powerful symbols for interpreting the world. Tackling a dazzling array of subjects such as philosophy, evolutionary psychology, animals, consciousness and the environment in her customary razor-sharp prose, The Myths We Live By reminds us of the powerful role of symbolism and the need to take our imaginative life seriously.Mary Midgley is a moral philosopher and the author of many books including Wickedness, Evolution as a Religion, Beast and Man and Science and Poetry. All are published in Routledge Classics.

Product details

• Authors: Mary Midgley
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.04.2011
• EAN: 9780415610247
• ISBN: 978-0-415-61024-7
• No. of pages: 296
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 200 mm x 24 mm
• Series: Routledge Classics; Routledge Classics
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous; Philosophie : Geschichte, PHILOSOPHY / General, popular science, SCIENCE / General, Philosophy