Overview

For the last 25 years, sociobiologists have come under continuous attack by a group of left-wing academics, who have accused the former of dubious and politically dangerous science. Many have taken the critics' charges at face value. But have the critics been right? And what are their own motivations? This book strives to set the record straight. It shows that the criticism has typically been unfair. Still, it cannot be dismissed as ""purely politically motivated"". It turns out that the critics and the sociobiologists live in different worlds of taken-for-granted scientific and moral convictions. The conflict over sociobiology is best interpreted as a drawn-out battle about the nature of ""good science"" and the social responsibility of the scientist, while it touches on such grand themes as the unity of knowledge, the nature of man, and free will and determinism. The author has stepped right into the hornet's nest of claims and counterclaims, moral concerns, metaphysical beliefs, political convictions, strawmen, red herrings, and gossip, gossip, gossip.

Full Product Details

9780198505051

Table of Contents

Reviews

The author...has written an expansive and objective account of the controversy....she provides a thorough overview of one of the most contentious and publicized academic skirmishes in recent years. For larger public and all academic libraries. --Library Journal

<br> The author...has written an expansive and objective account of the controversy....she provides a thorough overview of one of the most contentious and publicized academic skirmishes in recent years. For larger public and all academic libraries. --Library Journal<br>

<br> The author...has written an expansive and objective account of the controversy....she provides a thorough overview of one of the most contentious and publicized academic skirmishes in recent years. For larger public and all academic libraries. --Library Journal<br>

Author Information

Ullica Segerstrale is Professor of Sociology at Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago. She holds advanced degrees in organic chemistry and biochemistry, in communications, and in sociology. Born and raised in Finland, she now lives in Chicago.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available