Bikewer
Penultimate Amazing
Just finished reading Steven Pinker's book. Very interesting; I'd put it on the "must read" list for any skeptic.
The title refers to the notion that there is essentially no Human Nature. Begining around the turn of the century, the social sciences began to embrace this idea fully, and it became felt that the human mind was almost entirely the product of experience and culture impinging on that "blank slate".
Implicit in this thinking (according to Pinker) are two other basic notions; The Noble Savage, (humans are, by inclination, peaceful, cooperative souls) and the Ghost in the Machine (dualism...the brain can't possiblly account for conciousness).
These ideas have informed the social sciences to a greater or lesser degree for the past hundred years or so.
Pinker shows quite convincingly how modern scientific discoveries, especially in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, are effectively changing these deeply entrenched notions.
I recall the furor over E.O. Wilson's book back in the seventies, but I had no idea the disputes among the scientific community were so bitter and rancorous!
Pinker goes on to show how this idea of the blank slate has misinformed both public and private policy in a wide variety of areas, and how a scientific concensus as to the biological nature of conciousness can assist us in forming new policies that take human nature into account.
The book reads well, with plenty of humor inserted (Pinker likes Calvin & Hobbes, another thumbs up in my opinion...).
There are plenty of references for the so-inclined to look up as well.
I have my copy from the library, I'm putting this on my purchase list.
The title refers to the notion that there is essentially no Human Nature. Begining around the turn of the century, the social sciences began to embrace this idea fully, and it became felt that the human mind was almost entirely the product of experience and culture impinging on that "blank slate".
Implicit in this thinking (according to Pinker) are two other basic notions; The Noble Savage, (humans are, by inclination, peaceful, cooperative souls) and the Ghost in the Machine (dualism...the brain can't possiblly account for conciousness).
These ideas have informed the social sciences to a greater or lesser degree for the past hundred years or so.
Pinker shows quite convincingly how modern scientific discoveries, especially in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, are effectively changing these deeply entrenched notions.
I recall the furor over E.O. Wilson's book back in the seventies, but I had no idea the disputes among the scientific community were so bitter and rancorous!
Pinker goes on to show how this idea of the blank slate has misinformed both public and private policy in a wide variety of areas, and how a scientific concensus as to the biological nature of conciousness can assist us in forming new policies that take human nature into account.
The book reads well, with plenty of humor inserted (Pinker likes Calvin & Hobbes, another thumbs up in my opinion...).
There are plenty of references for the so-inclined to look up as well.
I have my copy from the library, I'm putting this on my purchase list.
