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In this wonderfully illuminating book, Bolender suggests that basic features of social structures might be explained in part by appeal to the physics of symmetry and symmetry breaking. At the very least, Bolender shows that there is a possible kind of explanation of social structures that is deeper than biological or social evolution. It is a major contribution to social theory and to the philosophy of social science.

In this wonderfully illuminating book, Bolender suggests that basic features of social structures might be explained in part by appeal to the physics of symmetry and symmetry breaking. At the very least, Bolender shows that there is a possible kind of explanation of social structures that is deeper than biological or social evolution. It is a major contribution to social theory and to the philosophy of social science. Gilbert Harman, Department of Philosophy, Princeton University The idea that physics could shape human activity goes back to Pythagoras, but as our understanding of the natural sciences deepens, this insight seems to gain in significance. Drawing from both the theories of complex dynamic systems and contemporary linguistics, Bolender's well-informed, lucid, and provocative reflection on the mind as a self-organizing physical system uniquely raises the discussion about sociality to a new level, well beyond less ambitious functionalist accounts. Juan Uriagereka, University of Maryland

The idea that physics could shape human activity goes back to Pythagoras, but as our understanding of the natural sciences deepens, this insight seems to gain in significance. Drawing from both the theories of complex dynamic systems and contemporary linguistics, Bolender's well-informed, lucid, and provocative reflection on the mind as a self-organizing physical system uniquely raises the discussion about sociality to a new level, well beyond less ambitious functionalist accounts. --Juan Uriagereka, University of Maryland In this wonderfully illuminating book, Bolender suggests that basic features of social structures might be explained in part by appeal to the physics of symmetry and symmetry breaking. At the very least, Bolender shows that there is a possible kind of explanation of social structures that is deeper than biological or social evolution. It is a major contribution to social theory and to the philosophy of social science. --Gilbert Harman, Department of Philosophy, Princeton University

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John Bolender is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and Visiting Fellow in Philosophy at Princeton University.

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