David Sloan Wilson is a professor of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University. He is the author of The Natural Selection of Populations and Communities and coauthor of Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior.
"It is not until biologist Wilson published Darwin's Cathedral that
the evolutionary study of religion appears to have passed a
Rubicon. . . . Fifteen years after . . ., Wilson continues to make
substantial contributions to the evolutionary study of religion. .
. . We appreciate and celebrate the fifteen-year anniversary of
Wilson's seminal theoretical contributions in Darwin's Cathedral,
which propelled the contemporary evolutionary study of religion
forward. We hope that his current work has a parallel impact,
encouraging collaborative fieldwork, which will ultimately advance
the empirical study of religion."-- "Religion, Brain &
Behavior"
A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year-- "Times Literary
Supplement"
"As always, Wilson writes well and clearly and in a stimulating and
provocative style. The book is interesting and important, and there
can be no higher praise. . . . I applaud the approach taken by
Wilson, and I urge you to read Darwin's Cathedral."--Michael Ruse "
Science"
"Obviously, the main subject of Darwin's Cathedral--religion--is
widely contentious. In addition, many of the subjects which Wilson
draws to interpret religion--subjects such as group selection,
adaptation, hypothesis testing, and how to 'do' science--are
contentious among scientists. Discussions of these subjects tend to
be partisan, oversimplified, and riddled with misstatements. A
great virtue of Wilson's book is the scrupulous fairness with which
he treats controversial matters. He is careful to define concepts,
to assess both their range of applicability and their limitations,
and to avoid posturing, misrepresentations, exaggerated claims, and
cheap rhetorical devices. Thus, Wilson's book is more than just an
attempt to understand religion. Even to readers with no interest in
either religion or science, his book can serve as a model of how to
discuss controversial subjects honestly."--Jared Diamond "New York
Review of Books"
"It is not until biologist Wilson published Darwin's
Cathedral that the evolutionary study of religion appears to
have passed a Rubicon. . . . Fifteen years after . . ., Wilson
continues to make substantial contributions to the evolutionary
study of religion. . . . We appreciate and celebrate the
fifteen-year anniversary of Wilson's seminal theoretical
contributions in Darwin's Cathedral, which propelled the
contemporary evolutionary study of religion forward. We hope that
his current work has a parallel impact, encouraging collaborative
fieldwork, which will ultimately advance the empirical study of
religion."-- "Religion, Brain & Behavior"
A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year-- "Times
Literary Supplement"
"As always, Wilson writes well and clearly and in a stimulating and
provocative style. The book is interesting and important, and there
can be no higher praise. . . . I applaud the approach taken by
Wilson, and I urge you to read Darwin's Cathedral."--Michael
Ruse " Science"
"Obviously, the main subject of Darwin's
Cathedral--religion--is widely contentious. In addition, many
of the subjects which Wilson draws to interpret religion--subjects
such as group selection, adaptation, hypothesis testing, and how to
'do' science--are contentious among scientists. Discussions of
these subjects tend to be partisan, oversimplified, and riddled
with misstatements. A great virtue of Wilson's book is the
scrupulous fairness with which he treats controversial matters. He
is careful to define concepts, to assess both their range of
applicability and their limitations, and to avoid posturing,
misrepresentations, exaggerated claims, and cheap rhetorical
devices. Thus, Wilson's book is more than just an attempt to
understand religion. Even to readers with no interest in either
religion or science, his book can serve as a model of how to
discuss controversial subjects honestly."--Jared Diamond "New York
Review of Books"
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