Mechanistic Biology And The Religious Consciousness

Mechanistic Biology and the Religious Consciousness is a book written by Joseph Needham, a renowned British biochemist and historian of science. The book explores the relationship between mechanistic biology and religious consciousness, specifically focusing on the impact of mechanistic thinking on religious beliefs and practices.Needham argues that the rise of mechanistic biology in the 17th and 18th centuries led to a fundamental shift in the way people viewed the natural world and their place in it. This shift, he claims, had a profound impact on religious consciousness, causing many to question traditional religious beliefs and leading to the rise of new forms of religious thought.Throughout the book, Needham examines the works of key figures in the history of biology, including Descartes, Newton, and Darwin, and how their ideas shaped the development of mechanistic biology. He also discusses the reactions of religious thinkers to these ideas, including the rise of deism and natural theology.Overall, Mechanistic Biology and the Religious Consciousness offers a thought-provoking analysis of the relationship between science and religion, and how the two have influenced each other over time. It is a valuable read for anyone interested in the history of science or the intersection of science and religion.THIS 44 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Science Religion and Reality, by Joseph Needham. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766129160.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.