02400cam a22003133u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003701000130007804000110009104100170010205000070011910000330012624500440015926400510020330000470025433600260030133700260032733800360035350000310038950800930042052014040051353400450191765300490196265300320201185600430204357532UtSlPG20260610134327.0mcr n260607r2018||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  a15003228  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aQA1 aBabbage, Charles,d1791-187110aPassages from the Life of a Philosopher 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2018  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2018-07-18  aProduced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team and
RichardW at http://www.pgdp.net  a"Passages from the Life of a Philosopher" by Charles Babbage is a semi-autobiographical account written in the mid-19th century. This work combines personal reflections with insights into the development of Babbage's inventions, particularly his pioneering work on calculating machines, including the Difference Engine. Through anecdotes and experiences across various social contexts, Babbage explores the challenges and triumphs he faced in the pursuit of knowledge and invention.  The opening of the text introduces Babbage's thoughts on ancestry and the value of a name, reflecting on his own family history and philosophical musings about identity. He begins with a humorous consideration of heritage, asserting that despite the perceived advantages of a distinguished lineage, it also brings expectations that can weigh heavily. Following this, Babbage shares early childhood memories filled with curiosity and inquisitiveness, particularly highlighting his fascination with understanding the world around him. He recounts formative experiences that shaped his budding philosophical outlook, including an adventurous episode of being lost on London Bridge and a humorous incident involving a near-poisoning. Together, these glimpses into Babbage's early life set the stage for the themes of exploration and rational inquiry that permeate the book. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aMathematicians -- Great Britain -- Biography  aBabbage, Charles, 1791-187140uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57532