The Reenchantment of Science: Postmodern Proposals

If you find the concepts of materialism, empiricism, reductionism, determinism and rationalism result in a world view which basically lacks value, spirit, purpose and meaning then This is a good read in an effort to move beyond the modern worldview and back to a more expansive world view in which the universe is seen as a holistic, enchanted and spirit filled reality without engaging in pure mysticism.

Beginning with the series introduction, the book's individual chapters give a cautious postmodern "preview." Combining hard scientific fact with visionary insights, an intellectual tapestry emerges that displays hopeful future prospects, even while examining challenges to human survival. The book shows numerous ways in which our fundamental assumptions about the true nature and meaning of "reality" are clearly under assault in biology, earth science, religious world modeling, ecology, brain science, and medicine. Like a multi-faceted gem, each chapter contributes its own sparkle of compelling evidence, providing yet another angle on the nature of the current world-wide paradigm shift. These essays give readers a chance to distance themselves from our conventinal cultural mind-set by providing a transitional context between "the way we were" and "the hope of things to come." This seminal source provides an informed basis for personal reflection and speculation, and it offers both hope and caution regarding the new world already entering our front door. While chapters may easily be read out of sequence, together they should help most educated readers better recognize the shifting of subtle social and cultural patterns that almost imperceptively announce, "The Modern World is dead! Long live the Postmodern World!"