There are, alas, a few things missing, as this book only has a bit over 400 pages. But that does not really detract from the thesis of the book; it is certainly a worthy outline of human history, particularly approached through the lens of intellectual achievement and the advance of knowledge.
Van Doren, as you may recall, is the Van Doren who got caught up in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Ironic that this fate should befall him, as his learning would obviously put to shame the current crop of would-be millionaires so popular on the television today. But, I digress.
Van Doren spent the two decades before writing this book as an editor for Encyclopedia Britannica. He has put together a worthy outline to knowledge, broad in scope and with just enough detail to satisfy the hunger and whet the appetite simultaneously.
`The voluminous literature dealing with the idea of human progress is decidedly a mixed bag. While some of these writings are impressive and even inspiring, many of them are superficial, perhaps even ridiculous, in their reiteration (especially during the nineteenth century) of the comforting prospect that every day in every way we are growing better and better.'
Van Doren does believe in progress, but not in inevitable progress. He distinguishes between general knowledge and knowledge of particulars, and explores the inter-relationship of knowledge and happiness:
`The desire to know, when you realise you do not know, is universal and probably irresistible. It was the original temptation of mankind, and no man or woman, and especially no child, can overcome it for long. But it is a desire, as Shakespeare said, that grows by what it feeds on. It is impossible to slake the thirst for knowledge. And the more intelligent you are, the more this is so.'
Van Doren explores the advance of knowledge by time periods, then divided into general discussions with a specific centre. I give as an example the outline of topics in the chapter entitled An Age of Revolutions
An Age of Revolutions- The Industrial Revolution- Human Machines and Mechanical Humans- An Age of Reason and Revolution- John Locke and the Revolution of 1688- Property, Government, and Revolution- Two Kinds of Revolution- Thomas Jefferson and the Revolution of 1776- The Declaration of Independence- Property in Rights- Robespierre, Napoleon, and the Revolution of 1789- The Rise of Equality- Mozart's Don Giovanni- Goethe's Faust
Van Doren's own agenda and prejudice show through (a desire for the curbing of the rights of nation-states in favour of a one-world government, for instance -- without much detail about how that government would be constituted; after all, he is a realist who recognises that there's no point to such idle speculation in a history text), but he always returns to his charge of presenting the history of the whole through various parts.
His final chapter, entitled `The Next Hundred Years' examines the possible developments and societal changes (which we are already beginning to see) due to computers, chaos science, increased space exploration, genetic engineering and genome mapping, and an ever-present companion in history, war.
This is a well-written exploration of world history written with clarity and style. It makes an excellent companion piece for almost any intellectual field.
That aside, this is a wonderful primer on both the theory and history of knowledge. The sheer scope of the work is what makes it enticing. And the range of what he covers is astounding. It may not be as deep as one likes, nor as far-ranging, but it does accomplish its stated goal - to inform us of the long, sometimes difficult search for knowledge. I do not agree with all the author's conclusions but he backs them up; nothing is spoken or claimed in a vaccuum. Some will most assuredly disagree with the importance he places on Christianity in the scheme of things but as Daniel Boorstien has pointed out over and over, the Judeo-Christian environment encouraged thinkers and generally maintained a receptivity for original thinking not found in other cultures that remained wedded to the past. And it is undeniable that Christian Europe created a revolution of ideas that revolutionized and conquered the world in a short span.
As many have stated, the last third of the book suffers from an unavoidable problem - the passage of time. It reminds one of the oxymoron "instant analysis" which usually fulfills the former and rarely the latter. Still, despite the myopia, some of the ideas he suggests are provocative and even witty. Get a copy and enjoy.
My friend was absolutely right. I have been on a history kick ever since.
Charles Van Doren is really a tragic character. He is of "Quizz Show" fame. This movie described the historical events, whereby a young, attractive U of Columbia teacher (Charles Van Doren) got caught in the scandal of the TV game show 21, and was ousted of university circles for ever.
The only way he was still able to teach was through this book and others. After reading this book, you will agree he succeeded and redeemed himself.
Other dubious claims:
- Technology is causing people to lose touch with the pastoral ideal living standard- Machines will one day revolt against humans and have human reasoning abilities- Some redistribution of wealth is important- Modern, anti-structure art forms (cubism) were progress- Freud, Marx, Hegel, Kant, Mann, Kafka and the ilk were visionaries of truth- Uncertainty in life is so substantial so as to make the pursuit of precision pointless- All of the chaos / uncertainty / unknowability therorists are visionaries- The French revolution was one of the greatest of all time
Although I enjoyed the first half of the book, I start to question its validity given the author's bias to the irrational demonstrated in the second half of the book. I become suspect that he might have omitted or misinterpreted facts in the first half as well.
Unfortunately, it falls down in the Twentieth Century. Apparently, it is true that an object flush against the nose allows no perspective.
Van Doren is clearly a child of the Sixties. He places all his faith in science, technological progress and education. He even defends television and pseudo-science fiction. In his view, the only salvation for man will be a dictatorship by computers. Need I say more?
Mr. Van Doren is a skilled and articulate scholar. The sort that collects a mountain of notes cards from every source conceivable, then distills the information into a very readable one-volume work. So long as his sources are brilliant, he basks in their glow. Unforntunately, an uninspired historian, unpracticed in forming his own ideas, (alas! suckled at the breast of tv commercials) is likely to leave his fly open when commenting on current events or speculating on the future.
