The exploration of how scientists study unobservable phenomena in fields like paleobiology and geology raises critical questions about the nature of scientific discovery versus creation. Derek Turner delves into the implications of this dilemma for the scientific realism debate, engaging with key philosophical positions such as realism, social constructivism, and empiricism. His insightful analysis connects these theories to practical issues in the study of prehistory, making the book relevant for both philosophers and scientists interested in the foundations of scientific inquiry.
In the wake of the paleobiological revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, paleontologists continue to investigate far-reaching questions about how evolution works. Many of those questions have a philosophical dimension. How is macroevolution related to evolutionary changes within populations? Is evolutionary history contingent? How much can we know about the causes of evolutionary trends? How do paleontologists read the patterns in the fossil record to learn about the underlying evolutionary processes? Derek Turner explores these and other questions, introducing the reader to exciting recent work in the philosophy of paleontology and to theoretical issues including punctuated equilibria and species selection. He also critically examines some of the major accomplishments and arguments of paleontologists of the last 40 years.
Exploring the intersection of scientific realism and prehistory, Derek Turner delves into how these philosophical discussions shape our understanding of ancient human life. He examines the implications of scientific theories on interpretations of prehistoric evidence, offering insights into the nature of knowledge and reality in the context of our distant past. This work highlights the importance of philosophical frameworks in the study of human origins and the evolution of societies.
Lincolnshire is England's second-largest county--and one of the least well-known. Yet its understated chronicles, unfashionable towns and undervalued countryside conceal fascinating stories, and unique landscapes: its Wolds are lonely and beautiful, its towns characterful; its marshlands and dynamic coast are metaphors of constant change. From plesiosaurs to Puritans, medieval ghosts to eighteenth-century explorers, poets to politicians, and Vikings to Brexit, this marginal county is central to England's identity. Canute, Henry IV, John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford all called Lincolnshire home. So did saints, world-famed churchmen and reformers--Etheldreda, Gilbert, Guthlac and Hugh, Robert Grosseteste, John Wycliffe, John Cotton, John Foxe and John Wesley--as well as Isaac Newton, Joseph Banks, John Harrison and George Boole. Lincolnshire explorers went everywhere: John Smith to Jamestown, George Bass and Matthew Flinders to Australia, and John Franklin to a bitter death in the Arctic. Artists and writers have been inspired--including Byrd, Taverner, Stukeley, Stubbs, Eliot and Tennyson--while Thatcher wrought neo-liberalism. Extraordinary architecture testifies to centuries of both settlement and unrest, from Saxon towers to sky-piercing spires; evocative ruined abbeys to the wonder of the Cathedral. And in between is always the little-known land itself--an epitome of England, awaiting discovery.
This book presents a groundbreaking perspective on English school education, challenging traditional methods and advocating for innovative teaching strategies. It explores the impact of contemporary educational practices on student engagement and learning outcomes, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and creativity in the classroom. By addressing the needs of diverse learners, the author proposes a reimagined curriculum that fosters critical thinking and collaboration, aiming to transform the educational landscape for future generations.
Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century India, this narrative follows two British missionaries and their family's journey from England to the Indian subcontinent. It explores their experiences in various locations, including Dera Ghazi Khan and Quetta, while also weaving in the impact of the First World War. The story highlights themes of faith, cultural encounters, and the personal challenges faced by the missionaries during a tumultuous period in history.
»Sea Changes« – Zeitenwenden. Nur eine einzige katastrophale Nacht auf See vor der stillen britischen Ostküste, und schon ertrinkt ganz England in einer Flut aus Schuld, Heuchelei und krankhafter Fernstenliebe. Vor dem Hintergrund eines tragischen Unglücks laufen die Lebenswege eines Glücksritters aus dem Irak und eines unverblümt Klartext redenden englischen Bauern schicksalhaft aufeinander zu, während Politiker und Journalisten darum ringen, sich ins bestmögliche Licht zu rücken. Derek Turners Debütroman, 2012 in den USA erschienen, hat mit bestürzender Genauigkeit die Mechanismen, Wege und Verläufe der so genannten Flüchtlingskrise vorgezeichnet, die seit 2015 über die Alte Welt hereingebrochen ist. Auch wenn er zu spät in deutscher Sprache erscheint, um noch als rechtzeitige Warnung dienen zu können, zeigt er doch das vielleicht Wichtigste auf: Die wahren Nutznießer des kulturellen Überlebenskampfes, in dem sich unser Europa befindet, sind nicht etwa die hereinströmenden Fremden – es sind unsere eigenen Landsleute, die ihnen den Weg ebnen, sie zum Kommen auffordern und jeden zum Staats- und Menschheitsfeind erklären, der auf seiner gewohnten Lebenswelt beharrt. Was der Franzose Jean Raspail in den 1970er-Jahren mit einem bahnbrechenden Buch begonnen hat, das vollendet der Brite Derek Turner im 21. Jahrhundert: das »Heerlager« des Digitalzeitalters.
