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Canterbury Pieces

By Samuel Butler
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Essays, Letters & SpeechesPhilosophy & EthicsScience - Biology

About This Book

A collection of essays, dialogues and letters that probe contemporary scientific and cultural debates, especially natural selection and the analogy between organisms and machines. The pieces range from pointed satire and speculative philosophy to literary criticism and personal lucubrations, and they explore how habit, invention and mechanical adjuncts reshape human bodies, minds and societies. Exchanges of correspondence and dialogic essays engage with critics and with scientific ideas, while shorter notes consider drama, sport and social manners. The tone alternates between argumentative, ironic and reflective to examine progress, habit and the porous boundary between the living and the mechanical.

About the Author

Butler, Samuel portrait

Samuel Butler

Samuel Butler was an English novelist, essayist, and social critic, known for his satirical and thought-provoking works. His most famous novel, "Erewhon," published in 1872, presents a unique utopian society that challenges contemporary Victorian values and explores themes of evolution and morality. Butler's writings often reflect his interest in science and philosophy, as seen in his essays and critiques of Darwinism in "Evolution, Old & New." He also authored travel narratives, such as "Alps and Sanctuaries of Piedmont and the Canton Ticino," showcasing his keen observations of culture and landscape. Butler's literary contributions continue to resonate, marking him as a significant figure in 19th-century literature.

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