Evolutionary explanations of human behaviour are increasingly popular today, challenging long-cherished notions of free will and subjectivity. Even religious faith is said to have its basis in the evolution of the brain: earlier this year researchers at Oxford University began a two million pound study into the evolutionary basis for belief in God. Other studies have claimed to find a genetic basis for political beliefs and behaviour – apparently liberals can be picked out by the activity of their anterior cingulate cortex, and voter turnout is correlated to particular alleles of the gene MAOA.
Critics argue that such thinking wrongly belittles the importance of human agency. Indeed, 30 years ago works like EO Wilson’s Sociobiology, which suggested a biological basis for social behaviour, were greeted with anger, derision, and accusations of closet fascism. Is the renewed interest in the evolutionary, genetic and psychological basis of human behaviour inspired by new evidence, or a diminished view of the human condition? Are social and cultural phenomena beyond the proper scope of natural science, or have we just become less hysterical about turning the microscope on ourselves?
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Professor Raymond Tallis fellow, Academy of Medical Sciences; author, philosopher, critic and poet; recent books include NHS SOS and Aping Mankind; chair, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying |
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Professor Dominic Johnson lecturer in International Relations, University of Edinburgh; author Failing to Win: Perceptions of Victory and Defeat in International Politics |
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Dr Jesse Bering director, Institute of Cognition and Culture, Queen's University Belfast; lead investigator for the European Commission project Explaining Religion. |
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Mark Henderson head of communications, Wellcome Trust; author, The Geek Manifesto: why science matters |
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![]() | Robin Walsh graduate medical student; co-founder, Sheffield Salon |
Darwin’s theory is being stretched to absurdity by those who overlook the obvious differences between Man and animals
Raymond Tallis, The Times, 29 October 2008Evolutionary psychologists can explain all kinds of behaviours by delving into our past, even why we prefer older, taller and leaner women during a crisis
Mark Henderson, The TImes, 25 October 2008The legal profession in America is taking an increasing interest in neuroscience. There is a flourishing academic discipline of “neurolaw” and neurolawyers are penetrating the legal system.
Raymond Tallis, The Times, 24 October 2007The evolution of human cooperation remains a puzzle because cooperation persists even in conditions that rule out mainstream explanations.
Dominic Johnson & Jesse Bering, Evolutionary Psychology, 21 March 2006
"Reading Pinker is one of the biggest favours I've ever done my brain" Richard Dawkins.
Steven Pinker, Penguin Books Ltd, 5 June 2003
Are humans unique? Can animals think as we do? Will machines ever be conscious? What is free will?
Kenan Malik, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 12 October 2000