Biology and Freedom - An Essay on the Implications of Human Ethology

Combining the findings of biology with logic and humour, this 1989 book gives a lucid portrait of human nature.

List of contents

List of illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. An Introduction: 1. Four portraits; 2. The pessimistic tradition; 3. Animals and analogy; Part II. Homo Pugnax: The Violent Species: 4. Communication and instinct; 5. The aggression labyrinth; Part III. Homo Egoisticus: The Selfish Species: 6. Evolution and natural selection; 7. Environment and heredity; 8. Stories of human evolution; 9. Darwinism, genetics and politics; Part IV. Homo Operans: The Greedy Species: 10. Conditioning and improvisation; 11. Work and play; Part V. Homo Sapiens: The Human Species: 12. The reductionist imperative; 13. Human communication; 14. Teaching and tradition; 15. The question; Glossary; Notes; References; Name index; Subject index.

Summary

Biology and Freedom, first published in 1989, is an essay on human nature: an attempt to make a just assessment of a species often presented as predominantly and unavoidably violent, grasping, selfish and stupid. Combining the findings of biology with logic and humour, Professor Barnett gives a lucid alternative portrait of humanity.

Product details

• Authors: S. A. Barnett, S. Anthony Barnett
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 26.01.1989
• EAN: 9780521353168
• ISBN: 978-0-521-35316-8
• Dimensions: 174 mm x 247 mm x 30 mm
• Weight: 960 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / General, Animal behaviour, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Ethology and animal behaviour, Zoology and animal sciences