Hannibal Lecture on Descartes by Prof. Brian Schwartz TODAY

A Hannibal Lecture on Descartes’ “Discourse on Method” will be delivered by Professor Brian Schwartz at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 in Niemann Media Theater. The lecture is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served.

The Promise and Lure of Reductionism – Descartes in the Post-Modern World
René Descartes may rightly be called one of the founders of the modern scientific project – the attempt to understand nature through the simple interactions of its most fundamental units.  The results of this innovation have brought us incalculable benefits, but not without cost.  This presentation will examine Descartes’ criticism of the tradition he engaged, his proposal for an alternative scientific method, his rhetoric in support of this new approach to science and philosophy, and what this may all mean for us today – and tomorrow.

Please contact Professor John Isham at jisham@carthage.edu with any questions.