The Biological Roots of Human Nature (Paperback)

Paperback. In this stimulating book, Goldsmith argues that biology has a great deal to say that should be of interest to social scientists, historians, philosophers, and humanists in general. He believes that anyone studying the social behavior of humans must take into consideration both proximate cause--the physiology, biochemistry, and social mechanisms of behavior--and ultimate cause--how the behavior came to exist in evolutionary time. Goldsmith, a neurobiologist, drawsexamples from neurobiology, psychology, and ethology (behavioral evolution). The result is a work that overcomes many of the misconceptions that have hindered the rich contributions the biologicalsciences have to offer concerning the evolution of human society, behavior, and sense of identity. Among the key topics addressed are the nature of biological explanation, the relationship between genes and behavior, those aspects of behavior most likely to respond to natural selection, the relationship between evolution and learning, and some probable modes of interaction between cultural and biological evolution. By re-examining the role of biological explanation in the domain of socialdevelopment, the author has significantly advanced a more well-rounded view of human evolution and shed new light on the perennial question of what it means to be human. His book will appeal tobiologists, social scientists, traditional humanists, and interested general readers. A consideration of the relevance of biological evolution to the study of behaviour. Goldsmith argues that anyone studying the social behaviour of humans must take into consideration both proximate cause - the physiology, biochemistry, and social mechanisms of behaviour - and ultimate cause - how the behaviour came to exist in evolutionary time. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.…