Editorial Reviews
Review
In Search of Human Nature poses questions imperative to these times and then sets about offering answers that are human and thoughtful...Clark's ideas sometimes run contrary to accepted wisdom, posing an intriguing set of questions about our capacities for creative choice even in the midst of systemic forces that are popularly believed to constrain our choices. Her vivid metaphors and careful explanations are grounded in impressive research and innovative perspectives. I recommend the book without reservation.
-Michelle LeBaron, University of British Columbia
Offering a wide-ranging and holistic view of human nature from all perspectives: biological, historical, and sociological, and taking the most recent data from disparate fields- such as paleontology and ethnology and physiology and fine arts- and weaving them together with clarifying anecdotes and thought-provoking images to challenge outmoded Western beliefs with hopeful new insights.
-Natural Resources Journal
Every society and culture has its own theory of human nature that it takes as the truth. If we're really one species, why are there such big differences in our self-perceptions? Biologist Clark proceeds from two basic premises: how we humans see reality is always constructed (some kind of map is essential for society, but as circumstances change, that map must be revised) and a single world view-that of the West-is becoming increasingly dominant around the planet (yet it makes certain assumptions leading to dangerous, indeed pathological consequences for all humans). The social theories on which the Western world view and its institutions is based demand revision. Note Very broad-ranging with a bibliography of about 850 items. Future Survey July, 2003.
In Search of Human Nature offers a wide-ranging and holistic view of human nature from all perspectives: biological, historical and sociological. Clark takes the most recent data from disparate fields-paleontology, primatology, ethology, genetics, neurosciences, physiology, anthropology, linguistics, ecological psychology, archaelogy mythology, fine arts, history and conflict resolution-and weaves the together with clarifying anecdotes and thought-provoking images to challenge outmoded Western beliefs with hopeful new insights. Beginning with the distortions intrinsic to analogizing himan behavior with that of intelligent machines, clark tackles an array of problems, from how environment and experience shape the brain to the ways we think about identity,meaning, and conflic, to peaceful processes for healing and adaptive social change. Family Therapy 2003.
Book Description
What are the roots of human nature and what is wrong with the scientific picture of what and who we are? Was Thomas Hobbes right to say that human life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short?" In this new work, biologist Mary Clark argues that the Western view of human nature is built around a highly atomistic and ideological framework that encourages us to think about the world and ourselves in the wrong way.
Beginning with some of the problems that emerge from building "laws" of human nature upon "laws" of physics, Mary Clark tackles an astonishing array of problems: what role genes play in the development of the brain, how we generated the concepts of mind and meaning we accept today and what is wrong with them, to the way we think about the formation of individual and group identity, conflict resolution and the environment. Throughout the book, she critically scrutinizes many widely-held views, whether it is what Darwin actually said about adaptive fitness and survival, received models of human nature such as man the "warrior" or "hunter," or whether it is right to think of emotions as an unfortunate legacy of our evolutionary heritage. Arguing for a more expansive view of science and human nature, she makes a strong case for the role of culture in constructing what and who we are without falling into the trap of relativism.
In Search of Human Nature
In Search of Human Nature,Mary E. Clark,Routledge,0415286603,Anthropology - Cultural,Archaeology / Anthropology,Human evolution,Life Sciences - Evolution - Human,Movements - Humanism,Philosophy,Life sciences: general issues,Philosophy / General,Philosophy of science,Popular science,Topics in philosophy,Western philosophy
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