Neither Gods Nor Beasts: How Science Is Changing Who We Think We Are - Couverture rigide

Carlson, Elof Axel

 
9780879697860: Neither Gods Nor Beasts: How Science Is Changing Who We Think We Are
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0879697865 ISBN 13 : 9780879697860
Editeur : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,U.S., 2008

Synopsis

Traditional views of human nature focus on the supernatural, defining us as creatures with souls, minds, and spirits that transcend our physical attributes. In this provocative book, distinguished scientist and historian Elof Axel Carlson argues for a different understanding of ourselves based on our biology-cellular organization, genetics, life cycle, evolution, and our origins as a species. This interpretation would not negate our capacity for imagination, spiritual and emotional yearnings, or aesthetic appreciation for art, music, and literature. Carlson challenges educators, the media, and public policy makers to integrate the evidence from science more fully into our understanding of ourselves. Contents: Preface; 1. Introduction; PART I: HUMANITY IN A UNIVERSE WITH LITTLE OR NO SCIENCE; 2. Living on Automatic Pilot; 3. Between Gods and Beasts; 4. Negative Views of Our Animal Aspects; 5. Mind, Souls, Ideals, and the Ephemeral; PART II: CONFRONTING OUR BIOLOGY; 6. Biology Becomes Mechanistic and Emerges as a Science; 7. The Human Body is Composed of Cells; 8. The Body Has an Evolutionary History; 9. Most Human Traits Are Determined by Genes and There Is a Molecular Basis to Life; 10. We Have a Life Cycle that Is Genetically Programmed and That Determines Our Sexuality; 11. Neurobiology Reveals How the Brain Works; PART III: HOW SHOULD WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM?; 12. The Blank Slate Fallacy, the Human Nature Fallacy, and the Biological Determinism Fallacy; 13. Human Nature as Potentials for Forming Communities; 14. Biology Enriches Our Appreciation of the Humanities; 15. Moral Values Bind a Community; 16. The Human Condition Changes Every Generation and Reshapes Our World Views; 17. Rethinking Science Teaching; 18. A Human Outlook for the Third Millennium; Index. Note from the Publisher: You may also be interested in the following titles: Times of Triumph, Times of Doubt: Science and the Battle for Public Trust; The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea; and Mendel's Legacy: The Origin of Classical Genetics.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Traditional views of human nature focus on the supernatural, defining us as creatures with souls, minds, and spirits that transcend our physical attributes. In this provocative book, distinguished scientist and historian Elof Axel Carlson argues for a different understanding of ourselves based on our biology-cellular organization, genetics, life cycle, evolution, and our origins as a species. This interpretation would not negate our capacity for imagination, spiritual and emotional yearnings, or aesthetic appreciation for art, music, and literature. Carlson challenges educators, the media, and public policy makers to integrate the evidence from science more fully into our understanding of ourselves. Contents: Preface; 1. Introduction; PART I: HUMANITY IN A UNIVERSE WITH LITTLE OR NO SCIENCE; 2. Living on Automatic Pilot; 3. Between Gods and Beasts; 4. Negative Views of Our Animal Aspects; 5. Mind, Souls, Ideals, and the Ephemeral; PART II: CONFRONTING OUR BIOLOGY; 6. Biology Becomes Mechanistic and Emerges as a Science; 7. The Human Body is Composed of Cells; 8. The Body Has an Evolutionary History; 9. Most Human Traits Are Determined by Genes and There Is a Molecular Basis to Life; 10. We Have a Life Cycle that Is Genetically Programmed and That Determines Our Sexuality; 11. Neurobiology Reveals How the Brain Works; PART III: HOW SHOULD WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM?; 12. The Blank Slate Fallacy, the Human Nature Fallacy, and the Biological Determinism Fallacy; 13. Human Nature as Potentials for Forming Communities; 14. Biology Enriches Our Appreciation of the Humanities; 15. Moral Values Bind a Community; 16. The Human Condition Changes Every Generation and Reshapes Our World Views; 17. Rethinking Science Teaching; 18. A Human Outlook for the Third Millennium; Index. Note from the Publisher: You may also be interested in the following titles: Times of Triumph, Times of Doubt: Science and the Battle for Public Trust; The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea; and Mendel's Legacy: The Origin of Classical Genetics.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,U.S.
Date d'édition
2008
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0879697865
ISBN 13 
9780879697860
Reliure
Relié
Numéro d'édition
1
Nombre de pages
180
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible