Memory is both a private, personal phenomenon and a collective interpretation of history by society. The concept of memory has long intrigued scientists, philosophers, and scholars alike. This fascinating volume explores some of the many ways that individuals and societies remember, forget, and commemorate events of the past. The collection of eight essays, representing some of the most engaging contemporary voices in the arts and sciences, takes a unique interdisciplinary approach to address the relationships between individual experience and collective memory. Many would expect scientists...

Memory is both a private, personal phenomenon and a collective interpretation of history by society. The concept of memory has long intrigued scientists, philosophers, and scholars alike. This fascinating volume explores some of the many ways that individuals and societies remember, forget, and commemorate events of the past. The collection of eight essays, representing some of the most engaging contemporary voices in the arts and sciences, takes a unique interdisciplinary approach to address the relationships between individual experience and collective memory. Many would expect scientists...

Eight distinguished experts from a wide range of disciplines consider the nature and the use of evidence in the modern world. Peter Lipton begins the book by analysing evidence in general philosophical terms. Carlo Ginzurg then examines the ambiguities of historical evidence. Vincent Courtillot analyses the evidence for cataclysmic geological change. Monica Grady considers the evidence for life in space. Brian Greene discusses superstring theory and the quest for a unified theory of the universe. Philip Dawid explores the uses and abuses of statistical evidence in landmark legal cases while...

Recent extraordinary and far-reaching events have transformed our world. The disintegration of the Communist Bloc has reconfigured international relationships, while the ending of apartheid symbolizes human commitment to unity. AIDS ravages developing countries, and it also has reshaped scientific research and cultural attitudes towards sexuality. The revolution in genetic medicine has coincided with increased rights for minorities and women. A growing awareness of our environment may cause millennial celebrations to be overshadowed by forecasts of ecological catastrophe. In this...

Recent events from the economic downturn to climate change mean that there has never been a better time to be thinking about and trying to better understand the concept of risk. In this book, prominent and eminent speakers from fields as diverse as statistics to classics, neuroscience to criminology, politics to astronomy, as well as speakers embedded in the media and in government, have put their ideas down on paper in a series of essays that broaden our understanding of the meaning of risk. The essays come from the prestigious Darwin College Lecture Series which, after twenty-five years, is...

Eight leading scholars from across the arts, humanities, and sciences contribute to this volume discussing migration and its influence on the modern world. This interdisciplinary approach provides an original perspective on one of the most important topics of our time and will appeal to anyone interested in current affairs.

Arising from the 2019 Darwin College Lectures, this book presents essays from seven prominent public intellectuals on the theme of vision. Each author examines this theme through the lens of their own particular area of expertise, making for a lively interdisciplinary volume including chapters on neuroscience, colour perception, biological evolution, astronomy, the future of technology, computer vision, and the visionary core of science. Featuring contributions by professors of neuroscience Paul Fletcher and Anya Hurlbert, professor of zoology Dan-Eric Nilsson, the futurist Sophie Hackford,...