Biology and freedom : an essay on the implications of human ethology
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Biology and freedom : an essay on the implications of human ethology
Cambridge University Press, 1988
Available at / 17 libraries
-
No Libraries matched.
- Remove all filters.
Note
Bibliography: p. [336]-360
Includes indexes
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Biology and Freedom, first published in 1989, is an essay on human nature: an attempt to make a just assessment of a species often presented as predominantly and unavoidably violent, grasping, selfish and stupid. Likening human beings to animals is a traditional method of influencing attitudes on morals and politics. But in this book Professor Barnett shows that modern ethology, experimental psychology, genetics and evolutionary theory give the now fashionable misanthropy no authentic support. In doing so he asks whether the theory of evolution has any bearing on Machiavellianism in politics or the concept of original sin; and whether laboratory experiments on the effects of reward and punishment tell us anything about the enigma of free will. Combining the findings of biology with logic and humour, Professor Barnett gives a lucid alternative portrait of humanity in which he stresses the questions that the complexities of human existence will raise long after current myths have faded. This book is for all interested in human nature and the future of human society.
Table of Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I. An Introduction: 1. Four portraits
- 2. The pessimistic tradition
- 3. Animals and analogy
- Part II. Homo Pugnax: The Violent Species: 4. Communication and instinct
- 5. The aggression labyrinth
- Part III. Homo Egoisticus: The Selfish Species: 6. Evolution and natural selection
- 7. Environment and heredity
- 8. Stories of human evolution
- 9. Darwinism, genetics and politics
- Part IV. Homo Operans: The Greedy Species: 10. Conditioning and improvisation
- 11. Work and play
- Part V. Homo Sapiens: The Human Species: 12. The reductionist imperative
- 13. Human communication
- 14. Teaching and tradition
- 15. The question
- Glossary
- Notes
- References
- Name index
- Subject index.
by "Nielsen BookData"
