Mining, Metallurgy and the Meaning of Life

Book excerpt: A book of 17 stories that brings a different perspective to the study of our relationship with the world around us. Its focus is the debate surrounding mining and the environment. It shows how this is related to the profound change which has occurred in our age's understanding of work and creativity. It is a study of cultural movements, reflected in the stories and literature of different times and places. There is a story on the biblical tradition and its relationship to mining; one on Plato's theory of craft; another looks at the symbols of mining; and the traditional work ethic is explored as well. Includes notes on each chapter, a list of book references and an index.