Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins

London: University of Chicago Press (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Over the course of human history, the sciences, and biology in particular, have often been manipulated to cause immense human suffering. For example, biology has been used to justify eugenic programs, forced sterilization, human experimentation, and death camps—all in an attempt to support notions of racial superiority. By investigating the past, the contributors to _Biology and Ideology from Descartes to Dawkins_ hope to better prepare us to discern ideological abuse of science when it occurs in the future. Denis R. Alexander and Ronald L. Numbers bring together fourteen experts to examine the varied ways science has been used and abused for nonscientific purposes from the fifteenth century to the present day. Featuring an essay on eugenics from Edward J. Larson and an examination of the progress of evolution by Michael J. Ruse, _Biology and Ideology_ examines uses both benign and sinister, ultimately reminding us that ideological extrapolation continues today. An accessible survey, this collection will enlighten historians of science, their students, practicing scientists, and anyone interested in the relationship between science and culture

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 86,656

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Creationism, intelligent design, and modern biology.Ronald L. Numbers - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Biology and the emergence of the Anglo-American eugenics movement.Edward J. Larson - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Evolution and the idea of social progress.Michael Ruse - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Eighteenth-century uses of vitalism in constructing the human sciences.Peter Hanns Reill - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Biology, atheism, and politics in eighteenth-century France.Shirley A. Roe - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Race, empire, and biology before Darwinism.Sujit Sivasundaram - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Genetics, eugenics, and the holocaust.Paul Weindling - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
Darwin's choice.Nicolaas Rupke - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.
The cultural authority of natural history in early modern europe.Peter Harrison - 2010 - In Denis R. Alexander & Ronald L. Numbers (eds.), Biology and Ideology From Descartes to Dawkins. University of Chicago Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-09-15

Downloads
105 (#143,697)

6 months
4 (#249,498)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references