Beyond Evolution

Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation

Anthony O'Hear

Clarendon Press

A much-needed challenge to the fashion for seeing human behaviour in biological terms
Argues that the individual is not bounded by his or her genetic and cultural inheritance
Ranges from consciousness and knowledge to beauty, morality, and politics

Beyond Evolution

Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation

Anthony O'Hear

Clarendon Press

Description

Anthony O'Hear takes a stand against the fashion for explaining human behaviour in terms of evolution. He maintains, controversially, that while the theory of evolution is successful in explaining the development of the natural world in general, it is of limited value when applied to the human world. Because of our reflectiveness and our rationality we take on goals and ideals which cannot be justified in terms of survival-promotion or reproductive advantage. O'Hear examines the nature of human self-consciousness, and argues that evolutionary theory cannot give a satisfactory account of such distinctive facets of human life as the quest for knowledge, moral sense, and the appreciation of beauty; in these we transcend our biological origins. It is our rationality that allows each of us to go beyond not only our biological but also our cultural inheritance: as the author says in the Preface, 'we are prisoners neither of our genes nor of the ideas we encounter as we each make our personal and individual way through life'.

Beyond Evolution

Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation

Anthony O'Hear

Clarendon Press

Beyond Evolution

Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation

Anthony O'Hear

Clarendon Press

Author Information

Anthony O'Hear, Professor of Philosophy, University of Bradford

Beyond Evolution

Human Nature and the Limits of Evolutionary Explanation

Anthony O'Hear

Clarendon Press

Reviews and Awards

a valuable addition to literature on evolutionary philosophy. - Nicholas Agar, Mind, Vol.110, No.438, April 2001

O'Hear has used formidable learning to bring together a mass of comment bearing on his initial question. - Professor S. A. Barnett, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews

O'Hear's wide-ranging discussion clearly characterizes current struggles within the discipline of philosophy and provides, if not a compromise, a resolution to the most central debates. Highly recommended. - H. Storl, Choice

In that wonderful British tradition of clear, thoughtful and considered philosophy. - Alan Padgett, Books and Culture

challenging new book ... The line of argument pursued by O'Hear should be apparent, and it is applied with equal deftness to morality and aesthetics ... a profound, subtle and brilliantly argued book. - David S. Oderberg, Spectator