Description
Book SynopsisIn False Truths, Edward C. Mendler contends that many of the beliefs, tenets, conclusions, and understandings that are widely accepted as truths are, in fact, not valid at all. Such dubious and false concepts arise not only in philosophy and theology but also under the rubrics of cosmology, quantum physics, democracy, freedom, economics, and various aspects of human nature and evolution. We accept and absorb these false ideas because they were and are propounded by authorities, both ancient and modern. Mendler asserts that we should challenge them all from Plato on to contemporary theorists in all of those fields and question and analyze every element of their conclusions.
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface CHAPTER ONE: RELIANCE ON AUTHORITY Origins Consequences CHAPTER TWO: THE STORY OF BELIEFS How the Ancient Greeks Misled Us The Middle Ages Muddle We Were Not Enlightened CHAPTER THREE: THE PERSISTENCE OF OLD IDEAS Old and New Jacques Maritain Pope John Paul II John Polkinghorne CHAPTER FOUR: THE ERROR OF DUALISM Causation Epistemology CHAPTER FIVE: FAITH AND ANTI-FAITH Faith Antifaith — Fair and Foul CHAPTER SIX: PHYSICS AND MYSTERY Cosmology Waves, Particles, Quanta CHAPTER SEVEN: BIOLOGY AND MYSTERY The Basics of Evolution The Burgess Shale Consciousness Humans and Animals The Origin of Life CHAPTER EIGHT: MIND The Awesome Brain Free Will and Foolishness Neuroscience — New Understandings CHAPTER NINE: EQUALITY, DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM Equality Democracy Freedom CHAPTER TEN: ENTERPRISE, PLANNING, FREEDOM AND WELFARE The Basics of Economics Enterprise and Planning Welfare and Gridlock CHAPTER ELEVEN: CONCLUSIONS Index
