Ignorance: A Global History

Peter Burke

Published by Yale University Press 2023

Ignorance

A Global History

Peter Burke

https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300271263

Overview
Contents

About this book

A rich, wide-ranging history of ignorance in all its forms, from antiquity to the present day

Throughout history, every age has thought of itself as more knowledgeable than the last. Renaissance humanists viewed the Middle Ages as an era of darkness, Enlightenment thinkers tried to sweep superstition away with reason, the modern welfare state sought to slay the “giant” of ignorance, and in today’s hyperconnected world seemingly limitless information is available on demand. But what about the knowledge lost over the centuries? Are we really any less ignorant than our ancestors?

In this highly original account, Peter Burke examines the long history of humanity’s ignorance across religion and science, war and politics, business and catastrophes. Burke reveals remarkable stories of the many forms of ignorance—genuine or feigned, conscious and unconscious—from the willful politicians who redrew Europe’s borders in 1919 to the politics of whistleblowing and climate change denial. The result is a lively exploration of human knowledge across the ages, and the importance of recognizing its limits.

Author / Editor information

Peter Burke is emeritus professor of cultural history at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of many distinguished books that have been translated into more than thirty languages, including The Polymath and What Is the History of Knowledge?

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
L ist of Plates Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
P reface and Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	xii
PART I: IGNORANCE IN SOCIETY
1 What is Ignorance? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Philosophers on Ignorance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
3 Collective Ignorance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
4 Studying Ignorance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	32
5 Histories of Ignorance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
6 Ignorance of Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	51
7 Ignorance of Science Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	69
8 Ignorance of Geography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	84
PART II: CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORANCE
9 Ignorance in War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	113
10 Ignorance in Business Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	132
11 Ignorance in Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	156
12 Surprises and Catastrophes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	182
13 Secrets and Lies Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
14 Uncertain Futures Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	228
15 Ignoring the Past Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	241
Conclusion: New Knowledge and New Ignorance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	254
Glossary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	262
Further Reading Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	299
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	300

Language: English
Publisher: Yale University Press
Pages
- Main content: 256
Illustrations
- Other: 20 b-w illus.

eBook

Published: March 10, 2023
ISBN: 9780300271263