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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 574.01 EAN: 9780060975197 ISBN: 0060975199 Label: Harper Perennial Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 144 Publication Date: January 13, 1993 Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: January 13, 1993 Studio: Harper Perennial Editorial Review: Product Description: Following in the fashion of Stephen Jay Gould and Peter Medawar, one of the world's leading scientists examines how "pure science" is in fact shaped and guided by social and political needs and assumptions. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - disappointingThis book is a semi-postmodernist criticism of a) biological determinism, and b) the widespread belief that scientists are first and foremost seekers of "truth", rather than furtherers of their own careers. Lewontin takes the argument that there is only so far science can go in explaining humanity, and that one should keep in mind that all scientific claims are convoluted with the power structure from which they arise. I agree with these points, but there's nothing particularly special about them...no ... Read More Rating:  - Science goes after the last sacred cow: itselfThis fascinating book turns the harsh critical eye of the scientific method back on the field of science itself, questioning everything you thought you knew about the discipline. Think germs cause disease? Think that evolution works through survival of the fittest? Think that people are constrained by their DNA? Richard Lewontin, the preeminent Harvard biologist, will cause you to think again. A written-down version of Lewontin's Massey Lectures, the book is eminently readable while carefully ... Read More Rating:  - Lewontin's Biology overcome by Ideology Some interesting and original points are made but the factual and interpretational flaws many times outweigh the insights. Lewontin attributes an exaggerated ideological influence on the scientific community (possibly concluding from his own strong political nature). This review reads as a critique of the representative points: Lewontin writes, "What Darwin did was take early 19th century political economy and expand it to include all of natural economy" (p.10). However, while it is well known that Darwin ... Read More Rating: - The Doctrine of DNADespite some shortcomings, I was thoroughly impressed by this book that I read it two times in a row. I also chose to base a school project on it. I am quite convinced that "Biology as Ideology" might actually have been one of the most important books of the previous century (Yes, I mentioned this in my project). And although it is atypical of me to comment on other people's reviews, some things just warrant correction. Contrary to what one reviewer said, Lewontin never once suggests that "there is no such thing ... Read More Rating:  - A Nice Propaganda PieceThis book claims that there is no such thing as race. While this would be nice, unfortunatly that is just not the case. Scientists can take a drop of blood and determine if its owner is Asian, African-American, European, Jewish, etc. If there is no such thing as race, then how is this possible? This book was used in a biased anthropology class that I took for my BA. I only bought it because I was forced to. |
