Key Ideas in Human Thought

McLeish, Kenneth

ISBN 10: 0816027072 / ISBN 13: 9780816027071

Published by Facts on File, 1993

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00094010811

Synopsis:

Spanning all disciplines throughout the ages, Key Ideas in Human Thought is the consummate guide to intellectual history. Assembled for the nonspecialist by a board of academic experts, this rich compendium provides 2,500 explanatory essays on the most important concepts that have shaped the modern world. Arranged alphabetically, terms encompass all fields of inquiry, from science to history, economics to literature, mathematics to music. This is where to find a lode of information on an extraordinary range of terms familiar and unfamiliar, complex and (apparently) simple, broad and narrow, such as post-modernism, atonality, chaos theory, structuralism, civilization, beauty, virtue.
To give a full understanding of each term, essays go beyond mere definitions to explore why certain concepts have become so important. Each entry sets the term in historical context, noting the contributions of major artists, scientists, thinkers and researchers as well as the influences of competing theories. An examination of how the concept fits into current thinking and where it may lead us in the future completes the store of information for each idea. Suggested reading lists and extensive cross-referencing are included throughout to make this the first and foremost source of its kind.
A brilliant combination of sophistication and accessibility, Key Ideas in Human Thought mines the breadth and depth of intellectual history as no other book does. With its wealth of information and highly readable essays, this lavish resource is an invaluable addition to every personal library.

Synopsis: Brief essays discuss more than two thousand concepts in art, science, economics, history, and philosophy, from absolute advantage and allegory to Turing machines, and wave-particle duality.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Key Ideas in Human Thought
Publisher: Facts on File
Publication Date: 1993
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good