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Text: English, French (translation)
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64 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Jacques Monod, the Nobel Prize winning biochemist, allies himself, in the title of this admirable treatise, to the atomist Democritus, who held that the whole universe is but the fruit of two qualities, chance and necessity. Interpreting the laws of natural selection along purely naturalistic lines, he succeeds in presenting a powerful case that takes into account the ethical, political and philosophical undercurrents of the synthesis in modern biology. Above all, he stresses that science must commit itself to the postulate of objectivity by casting aside delusive ideological and moral props, even though he enjoins, at the same time, that the postulate of objectivity itself is a moral injunction. He launches a bitter polemic against metaphysical and scientific vitalisms, dismissing them as obscurantist, as well as the animist projection in history and evolution, as represented by Teilhard de Chardin and, especially, the Marxist doctrine of dialectical materialism. He refutes teleological explanations of nature as being contrary to the postulate of objectivity, drawing attention to self-constructing proteins as teleonomic agents, followed by an explanation of the role of nucleic acids, reproduction and invariance. This leads him to dismiss Judaeo-Christian religiosity, which accords man a significant role as being created in God's image, as a nauseating and false pietism and he even goes so far as to recommend eugenic reform. Writing with great clarity and flair, and often in a forceful and idiosyncratic idiom, he puts forward a compelling case, though some knowledge of modern biology is presumed on the part of the reader. He also offers, in a truly philosophical fashion, fascinating insights and speculations on broader issues such as language, perception, the origin and nature of existence, as they are framed within his system. Generally, however, some experts and readers will contest some of his claims, such as his regarding proteins as primary, contrary to the common assumption that proteins are merely secondary to the genome. Nevertheless, a challenging, sophisticated and pugnacious treatise, which excels the work of the better-known biological writers in the English-speaking world, such as Dawkins and Gould.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
When it came out in 1970 this book caused a sensation. As well as explaining better for the general reader than ever before or since the revolutions in molecular biochemistry and genetics, Monod introduced the concepts that flowered into evolutionary socio-biology, Dawkins theory of memes,Dennett's and Ruse's philosophy of Darwinism and much more. One reads this short essay for enlightenment and stimulation; it is also shocking and crushing in its evaluation of the animisms(Monods word for religions) that have ruled human thought and behaviour. Although the conclusion is bleak and austere it is also exhilarating. Theists have attempted to respond, notably Mark Ward with 'God, Chance and Necessity' Even with 20 years to polish his arguments Ward loses lamentably in direct comparison to Monod's masterpiece of clear prose and devastating argument. Not a comfortable read but part of facing up to reality in the post religious era. A new edition with a forward by Maynard Smith has just come out in the UK.
27 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What Dawkins does for the evolution of complexity, Monod does for the very start of life.
Creationists like to believe that life is too complex, too perfect to have begun by chance. Monod shows, in excruciating detail, exactly how they are wrong. Dead wrong.
This is a landmark, crucial book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very important book
Even though this book was written over 40 years ago, I was amazed how well it stands up to current scientific knowledge. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bryan Hamlin
1.0 out of 5 stars
Scientism disguised as erudition
Chance & Necessity begins with Jacques Monod observing that organisms appear to serve a purpose ('teleonomy') but that purpose in fact can be reduced to molecular biology. Read more
Published 7 months ago by whiteelephant
5.0 out of 5 stars
PERHAPS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL "PHILOSOPHICAL" EXPOSITION OF...
Jacques Monod (1910-1976) was a French biologist---widely regarded as the "father of molecular biology"---who was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1965. Read more
Published on June 30, 2010 by Steven H. Propp
5.0 out of 5 stars
From biology to philosophy
A pioneering effort to examine the implications of modern biology on philosophy by the visional philosopher Jacques Monod. Read more
Published on February 6, 2010 by Crespo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stimulating and Clear
I don't always agree with Monod. However, his exposition is clear and straightforward, which makes it easy for me, as a reader, to discern where my view diverges from Monod's. Read more
Published on December 1, 2009 by Yothgoboufnir
2.0 out of 5 stars
Does not really prove anything
This book is a strange hybrid. Although Monod refers to it as an "essay", it lacks the continuity of ideas that characterize what we think of as "essay structure". Read more
Published on July 5, 2007 by Stephen Hitchings
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teleonomy
Life has purpose and direction. How a thing of such perfection as an eye could have arisen of its own in a directionless universe (or even one which favors the dispersion of order)... Read more
Published on January 20, 2003 by Brandon E. Wolfe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing clarity and intelligence
A powerfully convincing demonstration of what we probably are and a probable key to why we behave the way we do. A seminal book, easy to read. Read more
Published on August 29, 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is time to accept the truth!
Denying reality never has helped mankind's progress. So instead on complaining about reality one ought to read this book, best combined with "The blind watchmaker"... Read more
Published on June 27, 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not good
I thought that this book showed how far people can go using words. If people think they evolved from cosmic dust rather than being perfectly designed, well let them speak for... Read more
Published on April 25, 1999
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