Scientists act within a social context and from a philosophical perspective that is inherently political. Whether they realize it or not, scientists always choose sides. "The Dialectical Biologist" explores this political nature of scientific inquiry, advancing its argument within the framework of Marxist dialectic. These essays stress the concepts of continual change and co-determination between organism and environment, part and whole, structure and process, science and politics. Throughout, this book questions our accepted definitions and biases, showing the self-reflective nature of scientific activity within society.
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An extremely readable and very provocative book. (New Scientist )
The book successfully achieves the authors' goal of demonstrating by example the power and nature of the dialectical method. Its usefulness, however, extends well beyond this. The articles are intellectually challenging in content as well as method. And by collecting in one place articles on evolution, scientific analysis and the social dimensions of science--the book's three major divisions--the authors have provided a valuable tool for exploring the complexity and richness of biology...The Dialectical Biologist is certain to be controversial...This book is a rich source of understanding, and it will undoubtedly stimulate important discussion. (New York Times Book Review )
This important and controversial book will be hotly discussed by biologists. (Library Journal )
The book successfully achieves the authors' goal of demonstrating by example the power and nature of the dialectical method. Its usefulness, however, extends well beyond this. The articles are intellectually challenging in content as well as method. And by collecting in one place articles on evolution, scientific analysis and the social dimensions of science--the book's three major divisions--the authors have provided a valuable tool for exploring the complexity and richness of biology...The Dialectical Biologist is certain to be controversial...This book is a rich source of understanding, and it will undoubtedly stimulate important discussion. (New York Times Book Review )
This important and controversial book will be hotly discussed by biologists. (Library Journal )
About the Author
Richard Levins is John Rock Professor of Population Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health.
Richard Lewontin is Alexander Agassiz Research Professor at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. His many books include Biology and Ideology, Not in Our Genes, and Human Diversity.
Richard Lewontin is Alexander Agassiz Research Professor at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. His many books include Biology and Ideology, Not in Our Genes, and Human Diversity.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most great books in today's biology,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Dialectical Biologist (Paperback)
This book represents one of the most complete pictures of biology and its perspectives. A book where science and philosophy play an interesting dialog. For the reader it will be an interesting approach to an interesting point of view: science is not merely theories, hypothesis, facts, but a delicate an sometimes not so delicated conjunction of social structures, background ideologies and scientific method. Personally, the book represents a general exposition of ideas from scientists with a coherent line of thought. In its moment controversial... and now, simply, one of the ways to do our labours of scientists, may be the best one...
9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rethinking how modern science is done,
By dubbio1 (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dialectical Biologist (Paperback)
In THE DIALECTICAL BIOLOGIST, Levins and Lewontin take a Marxist dialectical approach to examine the way and shape of contemporary biology. Not that I fully understand this approach, it does raise some intriguing critiques about the influence of the biotech-industrial complex and how groupthink and intertia of academia enforces dogma. I particularly liked the "Isadore Nabi" piece and the essay on agri-business.As a working scientist, I think it is important to think and rethink the Big Picture of why and how we do what we do. THE DIALECTICAL BIOLOGIST addresses a few particular questions of ways of modern biology. NB: similar themes are covered in DOING SCIENCE: THE REALITY CLUB #2, edited by John Brockman.
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