Dans ce livre, Albert Jacquard propose à ses lecteurs une histoire de la pensée technique et scientifique des origines à nos jours. Après avoir rappelé combien les révolutions scientifiques ont radicalement modifié nos conceptions du Temps, de la Matière, de la Reproduction, du Vivant, l'auteur insiste sur ce qui lui paraît essentiel: rien ne sert d'avoir acquis une maîtrise vertigineuse de notre environnement si tant de science devait conduire à la violence que constituent la faim dans le monde et la guerre planétaire. Utopiste, et affirmant le droit de l'être, Albert Jacquard se veut plus réaliste que les "politiques" qui - il n'a pas de peine à le démontrer, exemples à l'appui - se trompent bien souvent. Ils oublient, ces hommes politiques, que la Terre a désormais les dimensions d'une petite planète bleue, photographiée de la Lune en 1969 par Armstrong et Aldrin; que nous vivons tous, désormais, dans un même monde fini, que ce qui touche les uns ne peut que concerner les autres. Les périls actuels encourus par le genre humain, Albert Jacquard les exprime en une formule: avec des moyens techniques et militaires qui sont ceux d'aujourd'hui, l'humanité continue à penser comme au Moyen Age.

Shall we return to the Moon? Could we colonise Mars, and other planets in our solar system? How might we travel to the distant stars, in our own Galaxy and beyond? Why haven't we yet met an extraterrestrial civilisation? How can we avoid the various cosmic threats, such as asteroid collisions? Could we escape the remote but certain death of our Sun? What is the ultimate fate of the Universe itself? This captivating and unprecedented book is about the future of the human race in the Universe, for the centuries, millennia and eons to come. It is not an account of 'what will happen', but of 'what could happen', in the light of our current knowledge, scientists' speculations, and their philosophical and social implications. Drawing also on historical accounts and classic works of science fiction, it artfully displays a gripping preview of Our Cosmic Future.

The history of science provides numerous examples of the way in which imagination, religion and mythology have sometimes helped and sometimes hindered scientific progress. While established ideas and beliefs clearly held back the discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin, the intuitive knowledge found in mythology, art and religion has often proved useful in indicating new ways in which to explore or represent new knowledge of the world. Stories, fables and images have contributed to drawing a fuller picture of the past, understanding the present and imagining the future. The essays in this book, written by academics, writers and artists from various fields ranging from La Fontaine’s fables to nanotechnology and modern art, all point out the ways in which imagination works its way into all the fields of knowledge. At both ends of the spectrum, the hybrid nature of the chimera emerges as a pivotal symbol of both man’s predation instinct and a powerful symbol of his fear of extinction. This interdisciplinary book, weaving together visual representation, literature, mysticism, and science, will appeal to historians of science, philosophy, art and religion. It will also be of interest to scholars in cultural studies and anthropology. Drawing on recent scientific research and artistic production, the volume will additionally interest a wider audience wishing to learn more about man’s obsession and fascination with the potent symbolism of dinosaurs and dragons and all hybrid forms generated by the human imagination and recent technology.

The Mediterranean is an outstanding 'hot-spot' of biological diversity. It is exceptional not only for this, but also because of its long history of interactions between its human inhabitants and the other fauna and flora of the region. The cradle of many civilizations, the Mediterranean region has been host to humans for thousands of years. This book is the first to synthesise our current understanding of the ecology, biology, and geology of Mediterranean animals, birds, and plants, and their habitats. The authors focus on the unique historical determinants and spatial patterns of Mediterranean biodiversity. In particular, the dramatic impacts of long-term human activities on the region's landscapes, flora, and fauna, are considered. This fascinating story will be of interest to researchers and students in ecology, biology, conservation, and geography, as well as to naturalists, and ecotourists visiting this popular holiday region.

Theological anthropology is being put to the test: in the face of contemporary developments in the spheres of culture, politics, and science, traditional perspectives on the human person are no longer adequate. Yet can theological anthropology move beyond its previously established categories and renew itself in relation to contemporary insights? The present collection of essays sets out to answer this question. Uniting Roman Catholic theologians from across the globe, it tackles from a theological perspective challenges related to the classical natural law tradition (part 1), to the modern conception of the subject (part 2), and to the postmodern awareness of diversity in a globalizing context (part 3). Its contributors share a fundamental methodological choice of a critical-constructive dialogue with contemporary culture, science, and philosophy. This collection integrates a wider range of approaches than one usually finds in theological volumes, bringing together experts in systematic theology and in theological ethics. Authors come from different American contexts, including Black and Latino, and from a European context that include both French and German. Moreover, the interdisciplinary insights upon which the different contributions draw stem from both the natural sciences (such as neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and ethology) and the humanities (such as cultural studies, philosophy, and hermeneutics). This volume will be essential reading for anyone seeking a state-of-the-art account of theological anthropology, of the uncertainties it is facing, and of the responses it is in the process of formulating. The shared Roman Catholic background of the authors of this collection makes this volume a helpful complement to recent publications that predominantly represent views from other theological traditions.

This book argues that current economist theories do not take into account the socially constructed nature of the debate surrounding the environment and environmental policy. It examines whether proposed economic solutions to environmental policy are, in fact, viable in practice. The book demonstrates that social conflicts cause policy compromises, which shape the economic system of a post-industrial ecological society. The author offers an innovative socio-economic theory of environmental politics, which illuminates the transformation dynamics brought about by the ecological crisis. Regulation Theory and Sustainable Development will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental politics, policy and governance.

This Open Access book presents feedback from the ‘Territorial Agroecological Transition in Action’- TATA-BOX research project, which was devoted to these specific issues. The multidisciplinary and multi-organisation research team steered a four-year action-research process in two territories of France. It also presents: i) the key dimensions to be considered when dealing with agroecological transition: diversity of agriculture models, management of uncertainties, polycentric governance, autonomies, and role of actors’ networks; ii) an operational and original participatory process and associated boundary tools to support local stakeholders in shifting from a shared diagnosis to a shared action plan for transition, and in so doing developing mutual understanding and involvement; iii) an analysis of the main effects of the methodology on research organisation and on stakeholders’ development and application; iv) critical analysis and foresights on the main outcomes of TATA-BOX, provided by external researchers.