Beyond Evolution: Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation by Ant

Description: Beyond Evolution by Anthony O'Hear Anthony OHear agues that evolutionary theory, successful as it is in explaining the development of living things, cannot give a satisfactory account of such distinctive facets of human life as self-consciousness, the quest for knowledge, moral sense, and the appreciation of beauty; in these we transcend our biological origins. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Anthony OHear takes a stand against the fashion for explaining human behaviour in terms of evolution. He maintains, controversially, that while the theory of evolution is successful in explaining the development of the natural world in general, it is of limited value when applied to the human world. Because of our reflectiveness and our rationality we take on goals and ideals which cannot be justified in terms of survival-promotion or reproductive advantage. OHearexamines the nature of human self-consciousness, and argues that evolutionary theory cannot give a satisfactory account of such distinctive facets of human life as the quest for knowledge, moralsense, and the appreciation of beauty; in these we transcend our biological origins. It is our rationality that allows each of us to go beyond not only our biological but also our cultural inheritance: as the author says in the Preface, we are prisoners neither of our genes nor of the ideas we encounter as we each make our personal and individual way through life. Author Biography Anthony OHear is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bradford. He is Director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, Editor of the journal Philosophy, and a member of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and of the Teacher Training Authority. Table of Contents 1: Mind and Nature2: Immanent and Transcendent Dimensions of Reason3: Self-Conscious Belief4: Evolutionary Epistemology5: Evolution and Epistemological Pessimism6: Morality and Politics7: Beauty and the Theory of Evolution8: ConclusionsBibliographyIndex Review `a valuable addition to literature on evolutionary philosophy.Nicholas Agar, Mind, Vol.110, No.438, April 2001`OHear has used formidable learning to bring together a mass of comment bearing on his initial question.Professor S. A. Barnett, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews`OHears wide-ranging discussion clearly characterizes current struggles within the discipline of philosophy and provides, if not a compromise, a resolution to the most central debates. Highly recommended.H. Storl, Choice`In that wonderful British tradition of clear, thoughtful and considered philosophy.Alan Padgett, Books and Culture`challenging new book ... The line of argument pursued by OHear should be apparent, and it is applied with equal deftness to morality and aesthetics ... a profound, subtle and brilliantly argued book.David S. Oderberg, Spectator Long Description Anthony OHear takes a stand against the fashion for explaining human behaviour in terms of evolution. He maintains, controversially, that while the theory of evolution is successful in explaining the development of the natural world in general, it is of limited value when applied to the human world. Because of our reflectiveness and our rationality we take on goals and ideals which cannot be justified in terms of survival-promotion or reproductive advantage. OHearexamines the nature of human self-consciousness, and argues that evolutionary theory cannot give a satisfactory account of such distinctive facets of human life as the quest for knowledge, moral sense, and the appreciation of beauty; in these we transcend our biological origins. It is ourrationality that allows each of us to go beyond not only our biological but also our cultural inheritance: as the author says in the Preface, we are prisoners neither of our genes nor of the ideas we encounter as we each make our personal and individual way through life. Review Text `a valuable addition to literature on evolutionary philosophy.Nicholas Agar, Mind, Vol.110, No.438, April 2001`OHear has used formidable learning to bring together a mass of comment bearing on his initial question.Professor S. A. Barnett, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews`OHears wide-ranging discussion clearly characterizes current struggles within the discipline of philosophy and provides, if not a compromise, a resolution to the most central debates. Highly recommended.H. Storl, Choice`In that wonderful British tradition of clear, thoughtful and considered philosophy.Alan Padgett, Books and Culture`challenging new book ... The line of argument pursued by OHear should be apparent, and it is applied with equal deftness to morality and aesthetics ... a profound, subtle and brilliantly argued book. David S. Oderberg, Spectator Review Quote OHears wide-ranging discussion clearly characterizes current struggles within the discipline of philosophy and provides, if not a compromise, a resolution to the most central debates. Highly recommended.H. Storl, Choice Feature A much-needed challenge to the fashion for seeing human behaviour in biological termsArgues that the individual is not bounded by his or her genetic and cultural inheritanceRanges from consciousness and knowledge to beauty, morality, and politics Details ISBN0198250045 Author Anthony OHear Short Title BEYOND EVOLUTION Language English ISBN-10 0198250045 ISBN-13 9780198250043 Media Book Format Paperback Year 1999 Imprint Clarendon Press Subtitle Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation Place of Publication Oxford Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 128 Illustrations bibliography, index Residence US Position Professor of Philosophy Affiliation Professor of Philosophy, University of Bradford DOI 10.1604/9780198250043 UK Release Date 1999-07-22 AU Release Date 1999-07-22 NZ Release Date 1999-07-22 Pages 230 Publisher Oxford University Press Publication Date 1999-07-22 Alternative 9780198242543 Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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