Aping Mankind : Neuromania, Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity

In a devastating critique Raymond Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society. While readily acknowledging the astounding progress neuroscience has made in helping us understand how the brain works, Tallis directs his guns at neuroscience’s dark companion – "Neuromania" as he describes it – the belief that brain activity is not merely a necessary but a sufficient condition for human consciousness and that consequently our everyday behaviour can be entirely understood in neural terms. With the formidable acuity and precision of both clinician and philosopher, Tallis dismantles the idea that "we are our brains", which has given rise to a plethora of neuro-prefixed pseudo-disciplines laying claim to explain everything from art and literature to criminality and religious belief, and shows it to be confused and fallacious, and an abuse of the prestige of science, one that sidesteps a whole range of mind–body problems. The belief that human beings can be understood essentially in biological terms is a serious obstacle, argues Tallis, to clear thinking about what human beings are and what they might become. To explain everyday behaviour in Darwinian terms and to identify human consciousness with the activity of the evolved brain denies human uniqueness, and by minimising the differences between us and our nearest animal kin, misrepresents what we are, offering a grotesquely simplified and degrading account of humanity. We are, shows Tallis, infinitely more interesting and complex than we appear in the mirror of biologism. Combative, fearless and always thought-provoking, __Aping Mankind__ is an important book, one that scientists, cultural commentators and policy-makers cannot ignore. Annotation Wittgenstein's complex and demanding work challenges much that is taken for granted in philosophical thinking as well as in the theorizing of art, theology, science, and culture. Each essay in this collection explores a key concept involved in Wittgenstein's thinking, relating it to his understanding of philosophy and outlining the arguments and explaining the implications of each concept. Concepts covered include grammar, meaning and meaning-blindness, language-games and private language, family resemblances, psychologism, rule-following, teaching and learning, avowals, Moore's Paradox, aspect seeing, the meter-stick, and criteria. Students new to Wittgenstein and readers interested in developing their understanding of specific aspects of his philosophical work will find this book very welcome. Contributors include Avner Baz, James Conant, David Finkelstein, Craig Fox, Heather Gert, Arata Hamawaki, Lars Hertzberg, Phil Hutchinson, Kelly Dean Jolley, Roderick T. Long, Eric Loomis, Rupert Read, and Avrum Stroll Annotation In a devastating critique Raymond Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society. The belief that human beings can be understood essentially in biological terms is a serious obstacle, argues Tallis, to clear thinking about what human beings are and what they might become. To explain everyday behaviour in Darwinian terms and to identify human consciousness with the activity of the evolved brain denies human uniqueness, and by minimising the differences between us and our nearest animal kin, misrepresents what we are, offering a grotesquely simplified and degrading account of humanity. We are, shows Tallis, infinitely more interesting and complex than we appear in the mirror of biologism. Combative, fearless and always thought-provoking, Aping Mankind is an important book, one that scientists, cultural commentators and policy-makers cannot ignore Introduction: The Strange Case Of Professor Gray And Other Provocations -- Science And Scientism -- Consequences -- Neuromania: A Castle Built On Sand -- From Darwinism To Darwinitis -- Bewitched By Language -- The Sighted Watchmaker -- Reaffirming Our Humanity -- Defending The Humanities -- Back To The Drawing Board. Raymond Tallis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 363-378) And Index. In this book, Raymond Tallis discusses what he considers to be exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society, and suggests that human beings are infinitely more interesting and complex than they appear in the mirror of biologism