Abstract
IN this useful and provocative work, the author denounces the idealistic tendencies of modern science and pleads for a revival of philosophical materialism. It is true that the extensive mathe-matisation of science has carried away from reality some of our most prominent men of science. A series of well-chosen quotations from leading physicists and biologists are taken as a basis by the author for a searching criticism of their idealistic point of view. The sympathy one may feel for the author's critical endeavours, however, can scarcely be lavished on his constructive conclusions. Inspired by the crude materialism of the Russian thinkers, the author gives as a keynote of his philosophy the very controversial assertion that mind is derived from matter. The elaboration of a tempered dualism would have saved him from many pitfalls.
The Outlook of Science: Modern Materialism.
R. L.
Worrall
By. Pp. v + 203. (London: John Bale, Sons and Danielsson, Ltd., 1933.) 8s. 6d. net.
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G., T. The Outlook of Science: Modern Materialism. Nature 133, 48 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/133048c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/133048c0