The Social Meaning of Modern Biology: From Social Darwinism to SociobiologyThe Social Meaning of Modern Biology analyzes the cultural significance of recurring attempts since the time of Darwin to extract social and moral guidance from the teachings of modern biology. Such efforts are often dismissed as ideological defenses of the social status quo, of the sort wrongly associated with nineteenth-century social Darwinism. Howard Kaye argues they are more properly viewed as culturally radical attempts to redefine who we are by nature and thus rethink how we should live. Despite the scientific and philosophical weaknesses of arguments that "biology is destiny," and their dehumanizing potential, in recent years they have proven to be powerfully attractive. They will continue to be so in an age enthralled by genetic explanations of human experience and excited by the prospect of its biological control.In the ten years since the original edition of The Social Meaning of Modern Biology was published, changes in both science and society have altered the terms of debate over the nature of man and human culture. Kaye's epilogue thoroughly examines these changes. He discusses the remarkable growth of ethology and sociobiology in their study of animal and human behavior and the stunning progress achieved in neuropsychology and behavioral genetics. These developments may appear to bring us closer to long-sought explanations of our physical, mental, and behavioral "machinery." Yet, as Kaye demonstrates, attempts to use such explanations to unify the natural and social sciences are mired in self-contradictory accounts of human freedom and moral choice. The Social Meaning of Modern Biology remains a significant study in the field of sociobiology and is essential reading for sociologists, biologists, behavioral geneticists, and psychologists. |
From inside the book
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Page 3
... arguments have been used to support a variety of economic and political positions. The aim of current efforts is ... argued, to give up our deluded sense of special status in nature and the values that it sanctioned—the values of “mind ...
... arguments have been used to support a variety of economic and political positions. The aim of current efforts is ... argued, to give up our deluded sense of special status in nature and the values that it sanctioned—the values of “mind ...
Page 4
... arguments being made; what is their scientific status; and what may be their cultural significance? What exactly are the continuities and discontinuities between the social Darwinisms and biological positivisms of the past and those of ...
... arguments being made; what is their scientific status; and what may be their cultural significance? What exactly are the continuities and discontinuities between the social Darwinisms and biological positivisms of the past and those of ...
Page 5
... argue, every scientific investigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, is also “an exegesis of our fundamental beliefs in the light of which we approach it” (Polanyi 1962, p. 267) and through which we attain scientific knowledge. As ...
... argue, every scientific investigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, is also “an exegesis of our fundamental beliefs in the light of which we approach it” (Polanyi 1962, p. 267) and through which we attain scientific knowledge. As ...
Page 13
... argument, see Reich 1982). Yet, in light of such views on social Darwinism and the Darwinian Revolution, how was it ... argued, had failed to incorporate into their society and personalities “the wonderful world view opened up by Darwin ...
... argument, see Reich 1982). Yet, in light of such views on social Darwinism and the Darwinian Revolution, how was it ... argued, had failed to incorporate into their society and personalities “the wonderful world view opened up by Darwin ...
Page 15
... arguments for the evolution of human mental and moral traits by natural selection. From his cousin, Francis Galton, Darwin gained an awareness of the alleged “survival of the unfit in contemporary social life” (Greene 1977; Jones 198o ...
... arguments for the evolution of human mental and moral traits by natural selection. From his cousin, Francis Galton, Darwin gained an awareness of the alleged “survival of the unfit in contemporary social life” (Greene 1977; Jones 198o ...
Contents
1 | |
11 | |
2 From Metaphysics to Molecular Biology | 44 |
3 From Molecular Biology to Social Theory | 77 |
The Natural Theology of E O Wilson | 95 |
5 The Popularization of Human Sociobiology | 136 |
Conclusion | 156 |
Epilogue | 167 |
References | 191 |
Index | 205 |
Other editions - View all
The Social Meaning of Modern Biology: From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology Howard Kaye Limited preview - 2017 |
The Social Meaning of Modern Biology: From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology Howard Kaye No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptive Alexander altruism animal appeared argue ascetic assumptions attempt Bannister 1979 Barash belief biological humanists biologists brain choice Christian claims concepts contemporary critics cultural evolution Darwinian Dawkins determinism E. O. Wilson environment ethics eugenics evolutionary biology evolutionary process existence extrascientific fact faith Francis Crick function genetic code genetic control Gunther Stent hopes human behavior human culture human evolution human mind human nature human social human sociobiology Huxley hypertrophy ical ideological implications inclusive fitness individual intellectual Jacques Monod Judson Lamarckism living lution Max Delbrück means mechanisms metaphysical molecular biology moral myth natural selection organism perspective philosophical reductionism physical political popular problem progress purpose reductionism reductionist religion religious replication reproductive role Schrödinger scientists selfish genes sense simply social behavior social Darwinism social Darwinists social evolution species Spencer spiritual struggle Sumner survival T. H. Huxley theorists tion traditional values Waddington Wallace Western