On Genes, Gods and Tyrants

The Biological Causation of Morality

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Reference, Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Cover of the book On Genes, Gods and Tyrants by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde, Springer Netherlands
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde ISBN: 9789400933897
Publisher: Springer Netherlands Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
ISBN: 9789400933897
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

Our future was with the collective, but our survival was with the individual, and the paradox was killing us everyday. John Le Carre Smiley's People (1979) Since the time of Ancient Greek lyrical poetry, it has been one of man's dreams to explain his own conduct. This is the background to all his activities, from literature to speculative philosophy, including those odds and ends which, for want of a better name and more precise boundaries are called "human science". Over the past nine or ten years a new member has been added to this inquisitive family, one which, moreover, claims to be scientific to an extremely high degree: biology. This is in fact a recurrent event, since theses designed to introduce causal biological expla­ nations into the general field of human action had already been formulated on at least two occasions (in original Darwinism and the Neo-Darwinist synthesis). Ethologists and sociobiologists are today taking over and as­ suring us that they have the necessary tools to provide an answer to what perhaps seemed the most slippery subject in the hands of science: the social being. As might be expected, philosophers have reacted with some scepticism. Though human conduct is undoubtedly subject to determinants, the lion's share of responsi­ bility lies with society itself. At the time when biology was beginning to develop the theories necessary to overcome cre­ ationism, Karl Marx had already managed to construct highly sophisticated interpretive models of human social behaviour.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Our future was with the collective, but our survival was with the individual, and the paradox was killing us everyday. John Le Carre Smiley's People (1979) Since the time of Ancient Greek lyrical poetry, it has been one of man's dreams to explain his own conduct. This is the background to all his activities, from literature to speculative philosophy, including those odds and ends which, for want of a better name and more precise boundaries are called "human science". Over the past nine or ten years a new member has been added to this inquisitive family, one which, moreover, claims to be scientific to an extremely high degree: biology. This is in fact a recurrent event, since theses designed to introduce causal biological expla­ nations into the general field of human action had already been formulated on at least two occasions (in original Darwinism and the Neo-Darwinist synthesis). Ethologists and sociobiologists are today taking over and as­ suring us that they have the necessary tools to provide an answer to what perhaps seemed the most slippery subject in the hands of science: the social being. As might be expected, philosophers have reacted with some scepticism. Though human conduct is undoubtedly subject to determinants, the lion's share of responsi­ bility lies with society itself. At the time when biology was beginning to develop the theories necessary to overcome cre­ ationism, Karl Marx had already managed to construct highly sophisticated interpretive models of human social behaviour.

More books from Springer Netherlands

Cover of the book Facts and Values by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Responsible Genetics by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Couple Resilience by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Water Resources Allocation by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book A Bridge between Conceptual Frameworks by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Gravity, a Geometrical Course by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book African Politics by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Michel Foucault: Personal Autonomy and Education by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Pericyclic Reactions by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Individuals, Essence and Identity by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Soundscape Ecology by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Fertility, Living Arrangements, Care and Mobility by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Essentials of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endocrinology by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
Cover of the book Reclaiming Contaminated Land by Penelope Lock, Camilo J. Cela-Conde
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy