Summary
Richard Lewontin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" argues that the belief that genes fully determine human nature is a reductive misconception, a "pervasive error that confuses the genetic state of an organism with its total physical and psychic nature." He challenges the tendency in modern biology, particularly genetics, to seek biological explanations for complex social and psychological phenomena. Lewontin critically examines claims made by biologists, especially concerning the Human Genome Project, evolutionary psychology, and cloning.
Through nine essays, the book scrutinizes the history of modern biology from Darwin to Dolly the sheep, explaining what current science knows and does not know. Lewontin offers a deflationary perspective on the desire to attribute everything about our physical, mental, and social lives to biology, covering topics from natural selection and altruism to sex surveys and genetically modified food. The book serves as a guide to controversial issues in the life sciences.
Key concepts
- Reductive Misconception — The error of equating an organism's genetic state with its complete physical and psychological nature.
- Human Genome Project — A subject of criticism for potentially overestimating the explanatory power of genetic sequencing for human behavior and afflictions.
- Evolutionary Psychology — An area examined by Lewontin, questioning its capacity to explain all aspects of human behavior.
- Natural Selection — A concept discussed in relation to its role in evolution, within Lewontin's broader critique of biological determinism.
From the book
Description: Is our nature—as individuals, as a species—determined by our evolution and encoded in our genes? If we unravel the protein sequences of our DNA, will we gain the power to cure all of our physiological and psychological afflictions and even to solve the problems of our society? Today biologists—especially geneticists—are proposing answers to questions that have long been asked by philosophy or faith or the social sciences. Their work carries the weight of scientific authority and attracts widespread public attention, but it is often based on what the renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Lewontin identifies as a highly reductive misconception: "the pervasive error that confuses the genetic state of an organism with its total physical and psychic nature as a human being." In…
Snippet: The second edition of this collection includes new essays on genetically modified food and the completion of the Human Genome Project. It is an indispensable guide to the most controversial issues in the life sciences today.