Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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50 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A poor exposition of evolutionary psychology., May 6, 1998
Evolutionary psychology has thus far been lucky to have exponents who are both comfortable and competent with current evolutionary theory (Daly & Wilson, Tooby & Cosmides, Buss, and Barkow). It was only a question of time until everyone started jumping on the bandwagon. Plotkin belongs to the 'yes, but' school of evolution. Yes, humans are the product of evolutionary forces, yes we are biological organisms and must obey biological principles but we are also super-wonderful, extra- special organisms. We have unique magical powers like intelligence, awareness and culture that other animals do not posses. This not only glorifies the abilities of humans but completely trivializes the wonder and magnificence of the rest of the kingdom Animalia. Plotkin has a very impressive command of the history of both biology and psychology. But that's about it. His attacks on sociobiology are both tired and pedestrian, revealing shallow insight. Then, he goes on to launch feeble assaults upon some of the most impressive empirical work of current evolutionary psychologists (Buss, Daly & Wilson) for the same trite reasons. Lastly, he tries to find a 'middle way'. This 'middle way' consists of fancifully picking and choosing from the findings of modern biology in a flimsy attempt to maintain a position for humans at the pinnacle of some mythical evolutionary ladder. Plotkin has betrayed evolutionary psychology with the title of his work and is bound to mislead the public about what evolutionary psychology really is. Evolutionary psychologists believe that Darwinian principles can and should be applied to the study of the human mind, an agenda Plotkin only halfheartedly endorses. Even the bibliography is tragically wanting. Readers are referred to Barkow, Tooby & Cosmides masterly work, The Adapted Mind, anything else by them, or by Buss or Daly & Wilson.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rare balanced critical review of a complex new field, April 19, 1999
By A Customer
Psychology is a discipline that has always struggled to convince the `hard' sciences that it is actually a member of the same club. It has taken many years of emphasis on precise methodology, careful statistics, multiple replications - and the exacting application of the Popperian principles of falsification and the hypothetico-deductive method - to make its point. Finally, and perhaps with some residual reluctance, psychology has (mostly) been admitted to the science club.However, this hard-gained reputation is at risk. Evolutionary psychology is the latest application of the compelling logic of Darwinism to a new field. Writers and researchers such as Pinker, Dawkins and Buss put forward an unending stream of theorising, some interesting, some frankly `so what'. But is it science? Scientific method post-Popper depends significantly upon the principle of falsification. Many books explain the principle, but in essence, the predictions derived from hypotheses must be subject not only to confirmation but also to disproof. Unfortunately, a look through the available textbooks in evolutionary psychology reveals scant emphasis on methodology, and a generally uncritical approach to their own findings. Buss's `Evolutionary Psychology' in particular is an example; there is a chapter on methodology, but little consideration of how theoretical predictions in evolutionary psychology might be falsified. Perhaps you, dear reader, would like to ponder how this could be done? Plotkin's excellent short review introduces most areas of evolutionary psychology in a critical light. As such, it serves as a useful counterbalance to the enthusiastic but uncritical approach of many books in this field. Plotkin is very familiar with evolutionary psychology, and makes clear his view that sociobiology has proved its point in animal studies. The jury is still out on the application of the theories to humans. There are other formidable critics of sociobiology, such as Lewontin and Rose, but only Plotkin has the psychological background to directly address evolutionary psychology. A very good book. Buy it. If you are a student of evolutionary psychology and need a balanced view, definitely buy it. There's nothing else.
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6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intellectually challenging--not for wimps or softies!, August 4, 1999
By A Customer
This stimulating and intellectually challenging book is not for everyone, and in particular not for those who are looking for entertaining anecdotes and an effortless read. Plotkin himself is a true scholar who reads widely and with a profound understanding. He knows which pieces are relevant to the puzzles he is solving, and he lets you look over his shoulder as he puts all the pieces together. Give him a C+ for entertainment, if you must, but give him an A for enlightenment.
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by H.C. Plotkin
by Dylan Evans
by Stephen Jay Gould
