The Dialectical Biologist

by Richard Levins, Richard Lewontin

Overview

Scientists act within a social context and from a philosophical perspective that is inherently political. Whether they realize it or not, scientists always choose sides. The Dialectical Biologist explores this political nature of scientific inquiry, advancing its argument within the framework of Marxist dialectic. These essays stress the concepts of continual change and codetermination between organism and environment, part and whole, structure and process, science and politics. Throughout, this book questions our accepted definitions and biases, showing the self-reflective nature of scientific activity within society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674202832
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	03/15/1987
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Richard Levins was John Rock Professor of Population Sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Richard Lewontin was Alexander Agassiz Research Professor of Zoology, Emeritus, at the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology. His many books include Biology and Ideology, Not in Our Genes, and Human Diversity.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. On Evolution

Evolution as Theory and Ideology

Adaptation

The Organism as the Subject and Object of Evolution

2. On Analysis

The Analysis of Variance and the Analysis of Causes

Isidore Nabi on the Tendencies of Motion

Dialectics and Reductionism in Ecology

3. Science as a Social Product and the Social Product of Science

The Problem of Lysenkoism

The Commoditizatjon of Science

The Political Economy of Agricultural Research

Applied Biology in the Third World

The Pesticide System

Research Needs for Latin Community Health

What Is Human Nature?

Conclusion: Dialectics

Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

The book successfully achieves the authors’ goal of demonstrating by example the power and nature of the dialectical method. Its usefulness, however, extends well beyond this. The articles are intellectually challenging in content as well as method. And by collecting in one place articles on evolution, scientific analysis and the social dimensions of science—the book’s three major divisions—the authors have provided a valuable tool for exploring the complexity and richness of biology… The Dialectical Biologist is certain to be controversial… This book is a rich source of understanding, and it will undoubtedly stimulate important discussion.

New York Times Book Review

An extremely readable and very provocative book.

New Scientist

An extremely readable and very provocative book.-- "New Scientist"

The book successfully achieves the authors' goal of demonstrating by example the power and nature of the dialectical method. Its usefulness, however, extends well beyond this. The articles are intellectually challenging in content as well as method. And by collecting in one place articles on evolution, scientific analysis and the social dimensions of science--the book's three major divisions--the authors have provided a valuable tool for exploring the complexity and richness of biology... The Dialectical Biologist is certain to be controversial... This book is a rich source of understanding, and it will undoubtedly stimulate important discussion.-- "New York Times Book Review"

This important and controversial book will be hotly discussed by biologists.-- "Library Journal"

From the Publisher

An extremely readable and very provocative book.

New Scientist