Cambridge Minds

An introduction, written by leading authorities, to many of the major modern achievements of Cambridge University.

This collection of essays by a group of leading authorities is addressed primarily to a non-specialist readership, with the aim of introducing people and achievements associated with the University of Cambridge over the past 150 years. It explains, in simple terms, what has been done in a wide variety of fields – including philosophy (Ray Monk on Russell, Peter Hacker on Wittgenstein, Robert Grant on Oakeshott); economics (Geoffrey Harcourt on Keynes); anthropology (Ernest Gellner on Frazer); the study of English (Stephen Heath on Richards and Leavis). Some who have made important contributions to Cambridge science describe their own work and discoveries - Max Perutz in molecular biology; Antony Hewish in radioastronomy; Simon Conway Morris in palaeontology. As a whole the book offers an intellectual portrait of many of modern Cambridge's most notable achievements which will be of interest to a broad range of readers within the University and far beyond.

Introduction; Notes on contributors; 1. The effects of a broken home: Bertrand Russell and Cambridge Ray Monk; 2. I. A. Richards, F. R. Leavis and Cambridge English Stephen Heath; 3. Emily Davies, the Sidgwicks and the education of women in Cambridge Gillian Sutherland; 4. Radioastronomy in Cambridge Antony Hewish; 5. Three Cambridge prehistorians Colin Renfrew; 6. John Maynard Keynes Geoffrey Harcourt; 7. Mathematics in Cambridge and beyond Jeremy Gray; 8. James Stuart: engineering, philanthropy and radical politics Paul McHugh; 9. The Darwins in Cambridge Richard Keynes; 10. How the Burgess Shale came to Cambridge; and what happened Simon Conway Morris; 11. Ludwig Wittgenstein P. M. S. Hacker; 12. 'Brains in their fingertips': physics at the Cavendish Laboratory 1880–1940 Jeffrey Hughes; 13. J. N. Figgis and the history of political thought in Cambridge Mark Goldie; 14. Molecular biology in Cambridge M. F. Perutz; 15. James Frazer and Cambridge anthropology Ernest Gellner; 16. Michael Oakeshott Robert Grant.

This collection of essays, by a group of leading authorities, provides an introduction to achievements associated with the University of Cambridge over the past 150 years. It explains, in simple terms, what has been done in a wide variety of fields, while some who have made important contributions to Cambridge science describe their own work and discoveries.