False Truths The Error of Relying on Authority [Paperback]

Mendler contends that many of the beliefs, tenets, conclusions, and understandings that are widely accepted as truths are, in fact, not valid at all. He asserts that we should challenge them all  from Plato on to contemporary theorists in all of those fields  and analyze every element of their conclusions.In False Truths, Edward C. Mendler contends that many of the beliefs, tenets, conclusions, and understandings that are widely accepted as truths are, in fact, not valid at all. Such dubious and false concepts arise not only in philosophy and theology but also under the rubrics of cosmology, quantum physics, democracy, freedom, economics, and various aspects of human nature and evolution. We accept and absorb these false ideas because they were and are propounded by authorities, both ancient and modern. Mendler asserts that we should challenge them all  from Plato on to contemporary theorists in all of those fields  and question and analyze every element of their conclusions.List of IllustrationsPrefaceCHAPTER ONE: RELIANCE ON AUTHORITYOriginsConsequencesCHAPTER TWO: THE STORY OF BELIEFSHow the Ancient Greeks Misled UsThe Middle Ages MuddleWe Were Not EnlightenedCHAPTER THREE: THE PERSISTENCE OF OLD IDEASOld and NewJacques MaritainPope John Paul IIJohn PolkinghorneCHAPTER FOUR: THE ERROR OF DUALISMCausationEpistemologyCHAPTER FIVE: FAITH AND ANTI-FAITHFaithAntifaith  Fair and FoulCHAPTER SIX: PHYSICS AND MYSTERYCosmologyWaves, Particles, QuantaCHAPTER SEVEN: BIOLOGY AND MYSTERYThe Basics of EvolutionThe Burgess ShaleConsciousnessHumans and AnimalsThe Origin of LifeCHAPTER EIGHT: MINDThe Awesome BrainFree Will and FoolishnessNeuroscience  New UnderstandingsCHAPTER NINE: EQUALITY, DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOMEqualityDemocracyFreedomCHAPTER TEN: ENTERPRISE, PLANNING, FREEDOM AND WELFAREThe Basics of EconomicsEnterprise and PlanningWelfare and GridlockCHAPTER ELEVEN: CONCLUSIONSIndexEdward C. Mendler grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He served as a Navy radio technl£3