Human Nature and the Limits of Science [Hardcover]

John Dupre (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0199248060 | ISBN-13: 978-0199248063 | Publication Date: January 10, 2002 | Edition: First Edition

John Dupr� warns that our understanding of human nature is being distorted by two faulty and harmful forms of pseudo-scientific thinking. Not just in the academic world but in everyday life, we find one set of experts who seek to explain the ends at which humans aim in terms of evolutionary theory, while the other set uses economic models to give rules of how we act to achieve those ends. Dupr� demonstrates that these theorists' explanations do not work and that, if taken seriously, their theories tend to have dangerous social and political consequences. For these reasons, it is important to resist scientism: an exaggerated conception of what science can be expected to do for us. Dupr� restores sanity to the study of human nature by pointing the way to a proper understanding of humans in the societies that are our natural and necessary environments. Anyone interested in science and human life will enjoy this book--unless they are its targets.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent, clear, and helpful"--Mary Midgley, The Scientific and Medical Network Review

About the Author

John Dupre is Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Exeter. He was formerly at Stanford University and Birkbeck College, London.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First Edition edition (January 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199248060
• ISBN-13: 978-0199248063
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,204,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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