Aping Mankind

Neurosciencehasmadeastoundingprogressintheunderstandingofthebrain.Whatshouldwemakeofitsclaimstogobeyondthebrainandexplainconsciousness,behaviourandculture?Whereshouldwedrawtheline?InthisbrilliantcritiqueRaymondTallisdismantles"Neuromania",arisingoutoftheideathatwearereducibletoourbrainsand"Darwinitis"accordingtowhich,sincethebrainisanevolvedorgan,weareentirelyexplicablewithinanevolutionaryframework.Withprecisionandacuityhearguesthatthebeliefthathumanbeingscanbeunderstoodinbiologicaltermsisaseriousobstacletoclearthinkingaboutwhatweareandwhatwemightbecome.NeuromaniaandDarwinitisdenyhumanuniqueness,minimisethedifferencesbetweenusandournearestanimalkinandofferagrotesquelysimplifiedaccountofhumanity.Weare,arguesTallis,infinitelymoreinterestingandcomplexthanweappearinthemirrorofbiology.Combative,fearlessandthought-provoking,ApingMankindisanimportantbookandonethatscientists,culturalcommentatorsandpolicy-makerscannotignore.ThisRoutledgeClassicseditionincludesanewprefacebytheAuthor.