What Nature Is An Outline Of Scientific Naturalism Classic Reprint

Excerpt from What Nature Is an Outline of Scientific Naturalism The problem before us is this: Given the ele ments and energies now at work in Nature, to explain human existence in naturalistic terms, to answer the questions: What is the Universe? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This book presents an introduction to the principles of scientific naturalism, which holds that nature is a self-sufficient reality that can be explained by natural causes and laws. Franklin explores the implications of this worldview for our understanding of the world and the place of humanity within it. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from What Nature Is an Outline of Scientific Naturalism I am now convinced, that no great improvements in the lot of mankind are possible, until a great change takes place in the fundamental constitution of their modes of thought. The old opinions in religion, morals and politics, are so much discredited in the more intellectual minds as to have lost the greater part of their efficiency for good, while they have still life enough in them to be powerful obstacles to the growing up of any better opinions on these subjects. When the philosophical minds of the world can no longer believe its religion, or can only believe it with modifications amounting to an essential change of its character, a transitional period commences, of weak convictions, paralyzed intellects, and growing laxity of principle, which can not terminate until a renovation has been effected in the basis of their belief, leading to the evolution of some faith, which they can really believe: and when things are in this state, all thinking or writing which does not tend to promote such a renovation is of very little value, beyond the moment. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Realm of Nature, an Outline of Physiography I. Physiography means literally the description of Nature. In order to describe anything we must know something about it, and in order to know something about anything we must study it. Knowledge obtained by the best method of study is science, and it differs from know ledge otherwise obtained in being so clear and definite that every step leading to the final result may be recalled and tested, if any doubt Should arise as to its trustworthiness. Hence description based on science is clear and full, and this is the kind of description required in Physiography. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The intellectual and cultural battles now raging over theism and atheism, conservatism and secular progressivism, dualism and monism, realism and antirealism, and transcendent reality versus material reality extend even into the scientific disciplines. This stunning new volume captures this titanic clash of worldviews among those who have thought most deeply about the nature of science and of the universe itself. Unmatched in its breadth and scope, The Nature of Nature brings together some of the most influential scientists, scholars, and public intellectuals—including three Nobel laureates—across a wide spectrum of disciplines and schools of thought. Here they grapple with a perennial question that has been made all the more pressing by recent advances in the natural sciences: Is the fundamental explanatory principle of the universe, life, and self-conscious awareness to be found in inanimate matter or immaterial mind? The answers found in this book have profound implications for what it means to do science, what it means to be human, and what the future holds for all of us.

Excerpt from Nature in Books: A Literary Introduction to Natural Science The object of the present manual is to attract the young mind to the scientific study of Nature by the presentation of facts in a literary or at least picturesque manner, so that the pupil may of himself make delighted progress as he reads and reflects: he should feel himself in a world of wonder, with his curiosity excited at every step. The scientific facts are, at first, of less importance than the cultivation of that interest in the phenomena of Nature which all boys and girls should (and most do) feel, and the formation of a habit of intelligent and accurate observation - a habit which is, indeed, less easy to acquire than is commonly supposed, but which involves a discipline scarcely, if at all, inferior to a properly conducted study of the classics. It is sometimes forgotten that around the study of the aspects and laws of Nature there is a literature which well deserves to be regarded as classical in the best sense of the word. Descriptions of Nature by writers like Shakespeare and Bacon, Wordsworth and Thomson, Izaak Walton and Gilbert White, again and again prove the fact; and their various testimonies to the abiding power in Nature to interest and elevate the mind have, therefore, been drawn upon in the preparation of the present work. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Nature, Vol. 27 America: American Naturalist, 24, 189, 450; American Jour nal of Science, 71, 450, 521 American journal of Forestly, 89; Mathematics in, J. W. L. Glaisher, 193; Ame rican Researches on Water Analysis, 211 American Antiqui ties, Prof. F. W. Putnam, 277; Ensilage in, Prof. James E T. Rogers, Prof. J. Wrightson, 479; Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Prof. T. G. Bonney, 501 Evolution of the American Trot ting Horse, W. H. Brewer, 609 see also United States, &c. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from First Book of Nature The order in which the topics have been treated, is the one that appeared most natural, and easiest to follow - animals, plants, and minerals of earth, and the most conspicuous objects of the heavens. No detailed classification has been attempted; nor have technical definitions or terms been employed; but it is hoped that the plan here adopted, will serve the reader as an introduction to a more thorough and systematic study of natural science, if to pursue such should be his desire. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.