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Lynn T. White, Jr.
(29 Apr 1907 - 30 Mar 1987)
American science historian who was known internationally as a medieval scholar.
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Science Quotes by Lynn T. White, Jr. (1 quote)
The greatest spiritual revolutionary Western history, Saint Francis, proposed what he thought was an alternative Christian view of nature and man’s relation to it: he tried to substitute the idea of the equality of creatures, including man, for the idea of man’s limitless rule of creation. He failed. Both our present science and our present technology are so tinctured with orthodox Christian arrogance toward nature that no solution for our ecologic crisis can be expected from them alone. Since the roots of our trouble are so largely religious, the remedy must also be essentially religious, whether we call it that or not. We must rethink and refeel our nature and destiny. The profoundly religious, but heretical, sense of the primitive Franciscans for the spiritual autonomy of all parts of nature may point a direction. I propose Francis as a patron saint for ecologists.
— Lynn T. White, Jr.
In The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis (1967), 1207.
See also:
- 29 Apr - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of White's birth.
- Medieval Technology and Social Change, by Lynn White, Jr. - book suggestion.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
