grrrrrr >To me, it comes down to the fundamental question of whether you think >evolution shaped our brains in ways that still affect our behavior. If the >answer is yes, then anyone interested in shaping human society should be >interested in finding out what those ways are.
Psychology is the study of the behaviour of individual human beings. Sociology is the study of human beings in large groups. Sociobiology is the unsupported assertion that one particular theory of psychology can be made to work as a theory of sociology. Evolutionary psychology is (in defense, and in legitimate journals) a theory of psychology. Evolutionary psychology is (in attack, and in pop science books), sociobiology. This is the fundamental piece of bad and/or dishonest thinking from which the rest of what is bad about sociobiology flows. I would note, speaking as an economist of neoclassical training, that there is at least one kind of social theory which hopes to "shape society" without having any theory whatever of what motivates individual people's desires. To be honest, the more I read Pinker and his mates, the more it strikes me what a fundamentally decent human being Gary Becker is, and that's got to be f'cked up. dd PS: As I've said before in re: Pinker, his main argument against conventional sociology is that it's carried out by sociologists. (In actual fact, his argument against sociology is that it's carried out by postmodernists, but I'm reconstructing him along the principle of epistemological charity) ___________________________________________________ Email Disclaimer This communication may contain confidential or privileged information and is for the attention of the named recipient only. It should not be passed on to any other person. Information relating to any company or security, is for information purposes only and should not be interpreted as a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security. The information on which this communication is based has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. All e-mail messages, and associated attachments, are subject to interception and monitoring for lawful business purposes. (c) 2002 Cazenove Service Company or affiliates. Cazenove & Co. Ltd and Cazenove Fund Management Limited provide independent advice and are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and members of the London Stock Exchange. Cazenove Fund Management Jersey is a branch of Cazenove Fund Management Limited and is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Cazenove Investment Fund Management Limited, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a member of IMA, promotes only its own products and services. Investors should assume that companies within the Cazenove group are seeking and will seek investment banking and other business from the companies covered in Cazenove's research reports. ___________________________________________________
