Making Sense of Heritability

by Neven Sesardic

Overview

Neven Sesardic defends the view that it is both possible and useful to measure the separate contributions of heredity and environment to the explanation of human psychological differences. He critically examines the view—very widely accepted by scientists, social scientists and philosophers of science—that heritability estimates have no causal implications and are devoid of any interest and subjects the arguments to close philosophical scrutiny. His conclusion is that anti-heritability arguments are based on conceptual confusions and misunderstandings of behavioral genetics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521828185
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/13/2005
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Biology
Pages:	282
Sales rank:	1,033,709
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Neven Sesardic is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. His areas of specialisation are philosophy of biology, philosophy of science and philosophy of mind.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The nature-nurture debate: a premature burial?; 2. A tangle of interactions: separating genetic and environmental influences; 3. Lost in correlations? Direct and indirect genetic causes; 4. From individuals to groups: genetics and race; 5. Genes and malleability; 6. Science and sensitivity; 7. Conclusions.

Editorial Reviews

"This si an intelligent book that addresses one of the most controversial and emotional debates that has occurred in psychology over the last half of the 20th century." - David A. Mrazek, PsycCritiques

From the Publisher