Discussion: "On Human Nature," by Edward O. Wilson August 13, 2007

Progressive Book Club Meeting

We will be discussing "On Human Nature" by Edward O. Wilson at our next meeting on August 13th, 7-9 PM. Wilson is a pioneer in the very controversial field of sociobiology, and won a Pulitzer Prize for this 1978 book, which has recently been reissued.

According to an Amazon review, "On Human Nature begins a new phase in the most important intellectual controversy of this generation: Is human behavior controlled by the species' biological heritage? Does this heritage limit human destiny?"

An example of the opposition to Wilson's work appeared in a letter to The New York Review of Books in 1979. "At the present time, many technical criticisms of sociobiology have come from within anthropology and biology. Among the issues that have been raised are the misuse of animal analogies, the methodological flaws in studies claiming to show evidence for the genetic basis of human social traits, and misreadings and distortions of the anthropological literature." http://www.nybooks.com/articles/7782

Everyone—proponents and opponents alike—are welcome to attend and participate.

Cost is whatever drinks and food you consume.

Official Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProgressiveBookClubs/