Alas, Poor Darwin

The counter argument to biological determinism.

This highly controversial book offers the first comprehensible critique of the most popular scientific theory of the late 20th century – Evolutionary Psychology. Based on Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection, Evolutionary Psychology claims that ‘its all in our genes.’ Richard Dawkin’s The Selfish Gene, Edward O. Wilson’s Consilience, and Steven Pinker’s The Language Instinct have all become bestsellers, framing popular debate on human life and development.

Today, however, many biologists and social scientists contest this new biological determinism, showing that Evolutionary Psychology rests on shaky empirical evidence and flawed premises. In this provocative work Hilary and Steven Rose gather together the most eminent and outspoken critics of this ideology, who present a new perspective which acknowledges the complexity of life by placing at its center the living organism, rather than the gene.

Steven Rose is the winner of the 1993 Rhone-Poulenc Prize and one of the UK’s most eminent and prolific biologists.
Hilary Rose is Visiting Professor in Sociology at City University, London.