The Little Book of Big Ideas: 150 Concepts and Breakthroughs that Transformed History
An exploration of some of the most important and enduring ideas in human history—from religion, science, philosophy, medicine, psychology, politics, economics and art—each presented in brief, accessible form. "Big" ideas are those concepts and theories that have radically transformed our understanding of the world we live in, our place in that world and the ways we have shaped the past and will shape the future. Topics covered range widely and include Creation Mythology, Existentialism, The Elements, Relativity, Space Travel, Geometry, Ethics, Behaviourism, Genetics, Warfare, The Nation State, Anarchism, Capitalism, Classical Art and Architecture, The Renaissance—and much more.
Introduction
PART ONE: THE COSMOS AND RELIGION
Chapter 1. The Universe
Chapter 2. Creation Mythology
Chapter 3. Polytheism
Chapter 4. Monotheism
Chapter 5. Buddhism
Chapter 6. Reincarnation
Chapter 7. Atheism
Chapter 8. Heliocentrism
Chapter 9. Celestial Mechanics
Chapter 10. The Big Bang Theory
Chapter 11. Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Chapter 12. Space Exploration
Chapter 13. The Multiverse
Chapter 14. The End of the World
PART TWO: MATHEMATICS
Chapter 15. Numbers
Chapter 16. Arithmetic
Chapter 17. Algebra
Chapter 18. Geometry
Chapter 19. Non-Euclidian Geometry
Chapter 20. Infinity
Chapter 21. Irrational Numbers
Chapter 22. Calculus
Chapter 23. Probability Theory
Chapter 24. Statistics
Chapter 25. Chaos Theory
PART THREE: SCIENCE
Chapter 26. The Physical Sciences
Chapter 27. The Life Sciences
Chapter 28. Taxonomy
Chapter 29. The Scientific Method
Chapter 30. Causality
Chapter 31. Falsifiability
Chapter 32. The Elements
Chapter 33. Gravity and Newtonian Motion
Chapter 34. Electricity
Chapter 35. Evolution
Chapter 36. Thermodynamics
Chapter 37. Relativity
Chapter 38. Nuclear Fission
Chapter 39. Quantum Mechanics
Chapter 40. Continental Drift
Chapter 41. Cyberspace
Chapter 42. Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 43. Time Travel
PART FOUR: MEDICINE AND PSYCHOLOGY
Chapter 44. The Idea of Medicine
Chapter 45. Diagnosis
Chapter 46. Human Dissection
Chapter 47. Pathology
Chapter 48. Surgery
Chapter 49. The Circulatory System
Chapter 50. Anaesthesia
Chapter 51. Germ Theory
Chapter 52. Immunology
Chapter 53. Pharmacology
Chapter 54. Psychiatry and the Unconscious
Chapter 55. Behaviourism
Chapter 56. DNA
Chapter 57. Cloning
Chapter 58. Euthanasia
Chapter 59. Transhuman Medicine
PART FIVE: PHILOSOPHY
Chapter 60. Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Chapter 61. The Socratic Method
Chapter 62. Scepticism
Chapter 63. Materialism
Chapter 64. Idealism
Chapter 65. Ethics
Chapter 66. Determinism and Fatalism
Chapter 67. Aristotelianism
Chapter 68. Confucianism
Chapter 69. Logic
Chapter 70. Hedonism
Chapter 71. Epicureanism
Chapter 72. Humanism
Chapter 73. The Enlightenment
Chapter 74. Progress
Chapter 75. Optimism and Pessimism
Chapter 76. Rationalism
Chapter 77. Empiricism
Chapter 78. Utilitarianism
Chapter 79. The Übermensch (Superman)
Chapter 80. Pragmatism
Chapter 81. Meritocracy
Chapter 82. Existentialism
Chapter 83. Absurdism
PART SIX: POLITICS
Chapter 84. The Rule of Law
Chapter 85. Property
Chapter 86. Sovereignty
Chapter 87. The Social Contract
Chapter 88. Imperialism
Chapter 89. War
Chapter 90. Pacifism
Chapter 91. Democracy
Chapter 92. Autocracy
Chapter 93. Machiavellianism
Chapter 94. Theocracy
Chapter 95. Liberalism
Chapter 96. Conservatism
Chapter 97. Socialism
Chapter 98. Social Democracy
Chapter 99. Anarchism
Chapter 100. Nationalism
Chapter 101. Fascism
Chapter 102. Internationalism
Chapter 103. Universal Suffrage
Chapter 104. Civil Society
Chapter 105. Feminism
Chapter 106. Environmentalism
PART SEVEN: ECONOMICS
Chapter 107. Scarcity
Chapter 108. Utility
Chapter 109. Money
Chapter 110. Taxation
Chapter 111. Supply and Demand
Chapter 112. Capitalism
Chapter 113. The Invisible Hand
Chapter 114. Protectionism
Chapter 115. Comparative Advantage
Chapter 116. The Malthusian Problem
Chapter 117. Marxian Economics
Chapter 118. Keynesianism
Chapter 119. Spontaneous Order
Chapter 120. Creative Destruction
Chapter 121. Monetarism
Chapter 122. Globalization
Chapter 123. Conspicuous Consumption
Chapter 124. Game Theory
Chapter 125. Philanthropy
PART EIGHT: ARTS, ARCHITECTURE AND MUSIC
Chapter 126. Classical Art and the Renaissance
Chapter 127. The Music of the Spheres
Chapter 128. Poetry
Chapter 129. Drama
Chapter 130. Archetypal Stories
Chapter 131. The Baroque
Chapter 132. The Novel
Chapter 133. Aestheticism
Chapter 134. Romanticism
Chapter 135. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Chapter 136. Realism
Chapter 137. Abstract Art
Chapter 138. Modernism
Chapter 139. Symbolism
Chapter 140. Expressionism
Chapter 141. Cubism
Chapter 142. Futurism
Chapter 143. Art Deco
Chapter 144. Surrealism
Chapter 145. Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
Chapter 146. Deconstructionism
Chapter 147. Pop Art
Chapter 148. Brutalism
Chapter 149. Conceptualism
Chapter 150. Postmodernism
If you find an error or have any questions, please email us at admin@erenow.org. Thank you!