What Science Offers the Humanities: Integrating Body and Culture (New Approaches to European His)

What Science Offers the Humanities examines some of the deep problems facing current approaches to the study of culture. It focuses on the excesses of postmodernism, but also acknowledges serious problems with postmodernism's harshest critics. In short, Edward Slingerland argues that in order for the humanities to progress, its scholars need to take seriously contributions from the natural sciences - and particular research on human cognition - which demonstrate that any separation of the mind and the body is entirely untenable. The author provides suggestions for how humanists might begin to utilize these scientific discoveries without conceding that science has the last word on morality, religion, art, and literature. Calling into question such deeply entrenched dogmas as the 'blank slate' theory of nature, strong social constructivism, and the ideal of disembodied reason, What Science Offers the Humanities replaces the human-sciences divide with a more integrated approach to the study of culture. What Science Offers The Humanities Examines Some Of The Deep Problems Facing Current Approaches To The Study Of Culture. It Focuses Especially On The Excesses Of Postmodernism But Also Acknowledges Serious Problems With Postmodernism's Harshest Critics. In Short, Edward Slingerland Argues That, In Order For The Humanities To Progress, Its Scholars Need To Take Seriously Contributions From The Natural Sciences - In Particular Research On Human Cognition - Which Demonstrate That Any Separation Of The Mind And Body Is Entirely Untenable. The Author Provides Suggestions For How Humanists Might Begin To Utilize These Scientific Discoveries Without Conceding That Science Has The Last Word On Morality, Religion, Art, And Literature. Calling Into Question Such Deeply Entrenched Dogmas As The Blank Slate Theory Of Nature, Strong Social Constructivism, And The Ideal Of Disembodied Reason, What Science Offers The Humanities Replaces The Humanities-sciences Divide With A More Integrated Approach To The Study Of Culture.--jacket. Exorcising The Ghost In The Machine -- Embodying Culture -- Defending Vertical Integration. Edward Slingerland. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-355) And Index. What Science Offers the Humanities examines some of the deep problems facing current approaches to the study of culture. It focuses especially on the excesses of postmodernism, but also acknowledges serious problems with postmodernism's harshest critics. In short, Edward Slingerland argues that in order for the humanities to progress, its scholars need to take seriously contributions from the natural sciences-and particular research on human cognition-which demonstrate that any separation of the mind and the body is entirely untenable. The author provides suggestions for how humanists might begin to utilize these scientific discoveries without conceding that science has the last word on morality, religion, art, and literature. Calling into question such deeply entrenched dogmas as the "blank slate" theory of nature, strong social constructivism, and the ideal of disembodied reason, What Science Offers the Humanities replaces the human-sciences divide with a more integrated approach to the study of culture.

this Book Examines Some Of The Problems Facing Current Approaches To The Study Of Culture.