The Plurality of Worlds by William Whewell

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Author Whewell, William, 1794-1866
Author of introduction, etc. Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864
LoC No. 05021649
Title The Plurality of Worlds
Note Reading ease score: 43.2 (College-level). Difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
(This file was produced from images generously made
available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Summary "The Plurality of Worlds" by William Whewell is a scientific treatise written in the mid-19th century. The work explores the idea of whether other planets and celestial bodies are inhabited, engaging with contemporary astronomical discoveries and their implications for philosophical and religious thought. The author addresses the potential conflict between scientific knowledge about the vast universe and traditional religious beliefs regarding the uniqueness of Earth in God's creation. The opening of the essay sets the stage for a philosophical exploration of humanity's place in the universe, referencing the awe inspired by the night sky and the ancient question posed by the Psalmist: “What is man, that you are mindful of him?” Whewell considers modern astronomical knowledge, arguing that the multitude of celestial bodies prod the mind to inquire about possible other forms of life and civilization beyond Earth. He presents a thoughtful examination of how these discoveries might challenge existing religious beliefs, while proposing that an understanding of God's care for creation can expand to include the vastness of the universe. Overall, the beginning establishes a nuanced dialogue between science and religion, setting the stage for a deeper inquiry into humanity's significance in a potentially inhabited cosmos. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class QB: Science: Astronomy
Subject Plurality of worlds
Category Text
EBook-No. 36288
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 7, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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