This manual covers the Social Meaning of Modern Biology, authored by Howard Kaye and published by Routledge. This work delves into the cultural implications of attempts to derive social and moral guidance from modern biology, tracing these efforts from Darwin's era to contemporary discussions. It argues that these attempts, often mischaracterized as mere defenses of the status quo, are in fact radical efforts to redefine human identity and reconsider our way of life, particularly in an age captivated by genetic explanations and the potential for biological control. The text also examines significant developments in ethology, sociobiology, neuropsychology, and behavioral genetics since its original publication, analyzing their impact on debates about human nature and culture.
The purpose of this manual is to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding the complex relationship between modern biology and societal meaning. It is essential reading for sociologists, biologists, behavioral geneticists, and psychologists. The manual explores the scientific and philosophical challenges inherent in arguments that equate biology with destiny, highlighting their potential to dehumanize. It critically assesses attempts to unify the natural and social sciences through biological explanations, revealing their inherent contradictions regarding human freedom and moral choice. This study remains a significant contribution to the field of sociobiology.
The 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.
Author: Kaye, Howard
Publisher: Routledge
Illustration: n
Language: ENG
Title: The Social Meaning of Modern Biology: From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology
Pages: 00208 (Encrypted PDF)
On Sale: 2017-07-05
SKU-13/ISBN: 9781138538597
Category: Science : Life Sciences - Biology
The 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.
Author: Kaye, Howard
Publisher: Routledge
Illustration: n
Language: ENG
Title: The Social Meaning of Modern Biology: From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology
Pages: 00208 (Encrypted PDF)
On Sale: 2017-07-05
SKU-13/ISBN: 9781138538597
Category: Science : Life Sciences - Biology
