Biologism -- the belief that human beings are essentially animals and can be understood in biological terms -- is gaining increasing acceptance in contemporary thought. This trend is seemingly legitimised by genuine, often spectacular, advances in biological science: in human genetics, evolutionary theory and neuroscience. Our propensities, we are told, can be accounted for by "a gene for" this or that; everyday behaviour can be explained in Darwinian terms; and human consciousness is identified with the activity of the evolved brain. Ultimately, so the story goes, all that we do, think and feel is subordinated to the imperative of ensuring that we behave in such a way as to, individually or collectively, maximise the chances of replicating our genetic material. In Aping Mankind, Raymond Tallis argues that the rise of this way of thinking is a matter of profound concern. He demonstrates that by denying human uniqueness, and minimising the differences between humans and their nearest animal kin, biologism misrepresents what we are, offering a grotesquely simplified and even degrading account of humanity, which has dire consequences: by seeing ourselves as animals we may find reasons for treating each other like them. In a devastating critique Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society and shows that human beings are infinitely more interesting and complex than they appear in the mirror of biologism.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Strange Case of Professor Gray and Other Provocations 1. Science and Scientism 2. Consequences 3. Neuromania: A Castle Built on Sand 4. From Darwinism to Darwinitis 5. Bewitched by Language 6. The Sighted Watchmaker 7. Restoring Humanity 8. Restoring the Humanities 9. Back to the Drawing Board

About the Author

Raymond Tallis trained as a doctor before going on to become Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester. He was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences for his research in clinical neuroscience. He retired from medicine in 2006 to become a full-time writer. He has published fiction, poetry and over a dozen books of cultural criticism and philosophical anthropology including, most recently, the acclaimed The Kingdom of Infinite Space (2008).

Reviews

"A splendid book. Tallis is right to say that current attempts to explain major elements of human life by brain-talk are fearfully misguided... Tallis is exceptional in having both the philosophical grasp to understand what is wrong here and the scientific knowledge to expose it fully. He documents the gravity of this menace in a clear, vigorous style, with real fire, venom and humour." Mary Midgley "A wonderful book and an important book, one that all neuroscientists should read. Tallis's fearless criticism of the work of some distinguised contemporary academics and scientists and the rather ludicrous experimental paradigms of fMRI work needs to be made." Simon Shorvon, UCL Institute of Neurology