HIS 826 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Human Nature, Animism, Maya Civilization
23 Jan 2021
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Document Summary
The role of nature in societies and civilizations. Christian views that influenced science: each creature has a purpose to be filled god made everything perfectly adapted to its role, darwin argued that instead, nature itself caused adaption (a product of christian views) Taoism: spirits vs. soul, spirits exist separately from the body or object, after the creation, god withdrew from contact with humanity the intermediary messengers with god (e. g. angels, demons) Individuals have to behave well to attain blessings: hold the right values, etc. Hinduism: ancient india has many sects and philosophies, including the atheist precursor to hinduism: transmigration of souls between all animate forms of life. Technological response to nature: fire, hunting weapons, wood as fuel, dams, farming and animal husandry. What purposes does the study of nature serve: beyond the search for control, there is a search for truth, control human fate through healing, education, philosophy, theology, and natural philosophy, advising agriculture, etc.
