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Evolution and the Big Questions: Sex, Race, Religion, and Other Matters, by David N. Stamos
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This provocative text considers whether evolutionary explanations can be used to clarify some of life’s biggest questions.
- Examines topics of race, sex, gender, the nature of language, religion, ethics, knowledge, consciousness and ultimately, the meaning of life
- Each chapter presents a main topic, together with discussion of related ideas and arguments from various perspectives
- Addresses questions such as: Did evolution make men and women fundamentally different? Is the concept of race merely a social construction? Is morality, including universal human rights, a mass delusion? Can religion and evolution really be harmonized? Does evolution render life meaningless?
- Written in a clear and informative style, with helpful references for further reading and research
- Sales Rank: #1720336 in Books
- Brand: Brand: Wiley-Blackwell
- Published on: 2008-02-11
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.72" h x .66" w x 6.80" l, 1.11 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 288 pages
Features
- Used Book in Good Condition
Review
“In conclusion, this book is definitely worth a read, and Stamos successfully shows how evolutionary thinking has a bearing on the “Big Questions.” (Evo Edu Outreach, 1 December 2011)
"He does not simply present and adjudicate between arguments in the existent literature—he also includes some innovative arguments of his own, which gives one the impression of an author who is seriously engaged with his subject matter. Stamos is not just going through the scholarly motions: he means business." (Reports of the National Center for Science Education, April 2010)
"This book by Stamos is remarkable for the breadth and depth of its discussions. It promises to discuss the big questions and does just that. Stamos is very well informed ... .He presents different views on controversial issues, and does not shy away from pressing his own. Although this is a scholarly work with many references, it is written clearly and with verve. It will be of great interest to any reader willing to make the effort to understand the controversies concerning the implications of evolution. This outstanding work demonstrates how evolutionary ideas are of interest to virtually everyone. Enriching the text are a useful glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a good index. Highly recommended." (CHOICE, November 2008)
Review
"David Stamos's Evolution and the Big Questions delivers what its title promises—you get to look at all of the issues like race and ethics and religion that make the study of evolution so interesting and more than just a science. The book is written in a clear and friendly manner and deserves a very wide readership."
Michael Ruse, Florida State University
From the Back Cover
This provocative text considers whether evolutionary explanations can be used to clarify some of life’s biggest questions. It offers a lively, informative, and timely look at a wide variety of key issues facing all of us today—including questions of race, sex, gender, the nature of language, religion, ethics, knowledge, consciousness and ultimately, the meaning of life.
Some of the questions examined are:
- Did evolution make men and women fundamentally different?
- Is the concept of race merely a social construction?
- Is morality, including universal human rights, a mass delusion?
- Can religion and evolution really be harmonized?
- Does evolution render life meaningless?
Designed for students and anyone with an interest in the relationship between evolutionary heritage and human nature, the text takes an interdisciplinary approach and offers direction for further reading and research. Each chapter presents a main topic, together with discussion of related ideas and arguments from various perspectives. Along the way, it poses life’s biggest questions, pulling no punches and presenting a challenge to thinkers on all levels.
Most helpful customer reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Difficult answers make for difficult books
By absofob88
This book takes a hard look at all the questions you might have from life, and attempts to provide a concise and rational answer to the difficult questions. At times it's too rational, and will take a completely objective standpoint versus a politically correct one, so Dr. Stamos' writing won't appease everyone. Overall, it's a good book to get you started on thinking objectively about evolution and its importance in science.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Evolutionary psychology from a philosopher's point of view
By Dennis Littrell
There are nine chapters dealing in turn with knowledge, consciousness, language, sex, feminism, race ethics, religion, and the meaning of life. Professor Stamos is a philosopher as well as an expert on biological evolution as can be seen from the choices he makes on which to focus. Most evolutionary biologists would not focus on epistemology, for example, as Stamos does in the first chapter, nor would they suppose that somehow evolutionary biology could help us to find an answer to the meaning of life. But it is at the heart of Stamos's endeavor to show how evolutionary biology and the relatively new science of evolutionary psychology can at least give us a new perspective on some of these ancient questions.
The bête noir of the book is the Standard Social Science Model (SSSM) which Stamos finds not only inadequate but so riddled with politically correct and socially correct notions that it needs to be set aside. That the SSSM still holds sway in the humanities and social science departments in many of our colleges and universities is a testament to how far we haven't come. In chapter after chapter Stamos takes issue with the SSSM, applies ideas and knowledge from evolutionary biology and comes up with not only new perspectives, but in some cases enough evidence and rationale to destroy cherished conclusions. Particularly startling and revolutionary are what evo psych has taught us about religion, sex, consciousness, ethics and morality.
Some quick examples: In the case of religion, evolutionary biology has demolished the argument from design (creationists and Intelligent Designers notwithstanding). In ethics and morality we now know that morality does not come from religion but from the very nature of the beast--ourselves. The question of consciousness can be shown to be a product (or byproduct) of the evolutionary process depending on how it is understood or defined. As for sex, we now know, thanks to evolutionary psychology, that men and women have differing strategies which lead to differing behavior patterns, such as males seeking lots of reproductive tries while women try to find a male with resources. Stamos shows that the radical feminist model which claims that there are no significant sexual differences, that human behavioral differences are due to socially constructed gender roles, is mostly mistaken.
If you doubt any of this or are new to evolutionary psychology, I strongly suggest you read this exciting and surprisingly readable book. It will be an eye opener. It is clearly one of the best on the subject that I have read, and I've read dozens. Stamos is by temperament a teacher and has aimed the book at college undergraduates and a general, educated readership. His technique is to show how findings or implications from evolutionary biology relate to the big questions and then to consider objections from both experts and non-experts, contemporary and historical; and then to find a consensus or to show why there is no consensus. He is not shy about disagreeing with the heavyweights in biology or other fields nor does he mince words when taking the mistaken to task. He has the courage of his convictions and isn't afraid to criticize sacred cows. He has little patience with the kind of political correctness that leads to falsehoods. He believes in scientific truth as far as it goes and denigrates the scientific relativity of postmodernism. He is passionate and very well informed. I found the entire book fascinating, although a bit obtuse in parts. (But of course that may point to a failing on my part!)
Stamos is thorough about references, using footnotes and citing opuses, while being clear when he is giving his own opinion. His 17-page bibliography ("References") is an excellent source for further reading from which he has culled some very nice quotes as well as some telling interpretations. For example here is how he explains the official position of the US National Academy of Sciences that religion and science are compatible--a position that Stamos finds untenable: He employs William Provine, who "suspects 'intellectual dishonesty,' [is at work] just as every member of the Congress of the United States professes to be deeply religious but surely is not. What is behind it all, says Provine, is politics motivated by the fear of a public uproar if the truth be told, votes in the case of politicians, public funding in the case of scientists." (pp. 217-218)
I think that is exactly right.
And here is Stamos on human caused pollution and destruction of habitat: "...many ecologists view the human species not as the pinnacle of evolutionary progress but as a cancerous growth or parasite, one that is destroying its host, the biosphere." (p. 217; he credits Eugene P. Odum and William H. McNeill for this metaphorical point of view.)
Stamos even goes so far as to argue against free will in humans. He reminds us of the famous experiment by Benjamin Libet which showed that when people make a conscious decision to do something, such as lift a finger, they do so half a second after the neural activity correlated with the willing takes place. (p. 49) We have the illusion that we are making decisions, and we live happily in our ignorance. The illusion of being in charge is part of what consciousness is all about. Stamos asks, what does consciousness do? How is it adaptive? If it gives us the illusion of being in charge, perhaps that in itself is adaptive. Someone who feels he has no say in something, who feels his efforts have no importance, who feels he is at the mercy of things he can't control may not be as effective in dealing with the environment as the man who feels that he is in charge--even if that feeling is an illusion.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Overview
By E. Pineau
I've taken several courses with professor Stamos and adore his teaching style. His belief that philosophy suffers if entirely divorced from science, his affirmation of proper reasoning and logic and his coherent teaching style makes him, honestly, one of the best professors I've ever had. Sadly, I know longer go to York U (I may be going back for grad school :D) so I can no longer take courses with Stamos, so I decided to pick up his latest book hoping his writing style would be reflective of his teaching style. After reading Evolution and the Big Questions, my respect for Stamos has been reaffirmed. It is clear, it gets to the point and offers many evolutionary viewpoints on the subjects at hand (which include Religion, Knowledge, Sexuality and Race). What I love about it most though is that it is not only a collection of viewpoints on philosophical questions from an evolutionary point of view, but Stamos makes his own arguments and lets his own points of view become known. He is very well read in the subject of evolution and this becomes very clear while reading. The book even has an appendix at the end clarifying often misunderstood concepts in evolution as well as a glossary of terms for those not as versed in evolution. You do not need to be an expert in philosophy or evolutionary biology to enjoy this book. It is as clear and understandable as his lectures and definitely worth getting. I'm also excited for his next work on the subject of the myth of innate human rights. I've seen him give his presentation on it in person (I believe it's on YouTube as well) and he presents many novel ideas and makes some very interesting arguments. Stamos is also part of the reason why I want to pursue a career as a philosophy professor. I know I may sound like I am glorifying him, but he really is a great professor and I hope I can be taught by him again if I head back to York for grad school.
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