Human Accomplishment (2003)

Charles Murray surveys a very large topic and provides both direction and structure for it. The immensity of his work is difficult to appreciate for he ranks the leading 4,000 innovators in several fields of human accomplishment from 800 BC to 1950. The categories of human accomplishment where significant figures are ranked in the book are as follows: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, Medicine, Technology, Combined Sciences, Chinese Philosophy, Indian Philosophy, Western Philosophy, Western Music, Chinese Painting, Japanese Art, Western Art, Arabic Literature, Chinese Literature, Indian Literature, Japanese Literature, and Western Literature.
In reviewing the accomplishments in these categories he argued, based on Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics, that innovation is increased by beliefs that life has a purpose and that the function of life is to fulfill that purpose; by beliefs about transcendental goods and a sense of goodness, truth and beauty; and by beliefs that individuals can act efficaciously as individuals, and a culture that enables them to do so. I found that he answered my questions as they arose during my reading and he dealt effectively with issues like the prominence of the West, the predominance of men, and others. The most satisfying sections for me were his discussion of the importance of Aristotle and his summation. The result of Murray's efforts is a worthy assay of human excellence throughout history. ( )

Charles Murray’s Human Accomplishment is an unusual, provocative and wholly worthwhile read.

Murray tackles – and admirably executes – a daunting task: combing through dozens and hundreds of histories and encyclopedias of famous figures and events in the historical development of the sciences, medicine, technology, fine arts, literature and philosophy in search of answers to foundational questions such as ‘What is human accomplishment?’ ‘Who has accomplished the most, and why?’ and ‘What enables/drives such accomplishment?’

Given Murray’s notoriety, some might attempt brush off this study with a few puerile criticisms of Murray’s methods or results, but if you actually read the book you will see that Murray has anticipated and parried just about every possible objection. He is thorough, dispassionate, and clear.

The most interesting part of the book, I think, comes towards the end, as Murray concludes that it’s Christianity’s fostering of individualism, plus a sense of transcendence and purpose, that has undergirded the very heights of human accomplishment.

Highly recommended. ( )

Charles Murray is consistently insightful and always adept at simplifying complicated arguments. In this book, he evaluates empirically relative progress of human achievement over time and in different modern cultures. He develops an objective approach, then shows how progress was driven by a combination of improved economy, the centralization of advanced creativity in specific locations, and the additive effect of having previous successful models. He also proves that the often maligned "dead white men" really is a myth. ( )

http://www.olimu.com/Journalism/Texts/Reviews/HumanAccomplishment.htm ( )