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A History of Big History

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A History of Big History

A History of Big History

Series:
Author:
Ian Hesketh, University of Queensland
Published:
June 2023
Availability:
Available
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781009005197

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    Description

    Big History is a seemingly novel approach that seeks to situate human history within a grand cosmic story of life. It claims to do so by uniting the historical sciences in order to construct a linear and accurate timeline of 'threshold moments' beginning with the Big Bang and ending with the present and future development of humanity itself. As well as examining the theory and practice of Big History, this Element considers Big History alongside previous largescale attempts to unite human and natural history, and includes comparative discussions of the practices of chronology, universal history, and the evolutionary epic.

    Reviews & endorsements

    ‘… things might look different if we see Big History neither as an ambitious research programme nor as a scientistic creation myth but, in line with the middle option outlined above, as a narrative popularization of the tremendous progress made by the historical sciences over the last two hundred years - and for that purpose it could perhaps be described as ‘true enough’ (Elgin 2017). As such an amalgam, it would make a fascinating object of further study for both philosophers and historians. Both groups would do well to start this engagement with Hesketh’s short and incisive book.’ Georg Gangl, Metascience

    Product details

    • Published: June 2023
    • Format: Paperback
    • ISBN: 9781009005197
    • Length: 76 pages
    • Dimensions: 229 × 152 × 5 mm
    • Weight: 0.13kg
    • Availability: Available

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    Contents

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Introduction: what is big history?
    • 2. A history of big history
    • 3. Big history in theory and practice
    • 4. Conclusion
    • Bibliography.
    Courses
    Resources
    Additional Information
    About the authors

    Author

    Ian Hesketh , University of Queensland

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