The Scientific Attitude (Routledge Revivals: Selected Works of C. H. Waddington) - Hardcover

Waddington, C. H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 113895702X ISBN 13: 9781138957022

Publisher: Routledge, 2016

Synopsis

First published in 1941 (this edition in 1968), this book explores the relationship between science, culture, and society- focusing on human beings, and human communities. Here, C. H. Waddington uses the concept of science to mean more than factual information about genes and haemoglobin and his subject is the effect of scientific ways of speaking on the ways in which people look at the world around them.

The work discusses biological assumptions made by various communities, particularly fascist movements, on human beings and compares them with the scientific attitude. The Nazis for instance spoke about ‘racial purity’ and ‘German blood’ but these expressions, whilst arousing emotion, had, and have, no rational meaning- they are inaccurate and tell us nothing of human genetics.

As well as presenting a scientific argument, being published initially in 1941, this book also acts as a historical document, conveying some of the feeling of living through WWII. It highlights the fact that science and scientific assumptions have very wide implications for the whole conduct of life.

About this title

About the Author:

C. H. Waddington (1905-1975) was a world-class biologist, paleontologist, geneticist, embryologist, and philosopher. He is credited with helping to create the field of systems biology. He is the author of numerous books, including New Patterns in Genetics and Development, Principles of Development and Differentiation, and The Ethical Animal.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 113895702X
• ISBN 13: 9781138957022
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 204