John Alcock is Professor of Biology at Arizona State University. A researcher in animal behavior, he is the author of the leading book in the field, Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach, as well as several other books on behavior. He lives in Tempe, Arizona.
"A clear, evocative, and accurate account of the history and
content on the subject, inviting to the student and the general
reader alike."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University
"It doesn't matter whether you call it sociobiology, behavioral
ecology, evolutinoary psychology or even selfish genery, John
Alcock shows that triumph is exactly the right word. It is a field
of research in its mature growing season, with new young scientists
flocking to join in. Alcock captures the active spirit of this
once-controversial subject perfectly."--Richard Dawkins, Oxford
University
"This book rights some of the intellectual wrongs that have been
perpetrated on sociobiology and certain of its practitioners by
individuals who either do not understand what sociobiologists
really are saying or who have subverted the truth in pursuit of
their own agendas. Not everyone will agree with Alcock's
conclusions, but everyone will have to reckon with them--to the
delight of the sociobiologists and the chagrin of their
critics."--Paul W. Sherman,
Cornell University
"Darwinist heavyweight Alcock understands what's at stake in
evolution as well as any scientist living.... The author argues
against the competing blank-slate 'culture is all' theory, and he
dispels the misconception that sociobiology is in any way an
ideological endorsement of racism, sexism or the social dominance
of the rich over the poor.... This is an important and necessary
reappraisal of humankind's place in the Darwinist puzzle--one that
will
undoubtedly provoke renewed debate."--Publishers Weekly
"A clear, evocative, and accurate account of the history and
content on the subject, inviting to the student and the general
reader alike."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University
"It doesn't matter whether you call it sociobiology, behavioral
ecology, evolutinoary psychology or even selfish genery, John
Alcock shows that triumph is exactly the right word. It is a field
of research in its mature growing season, with new young scientists
flocking to join in. Alcock captures the active spirit of this
once-controversial subject perfectly."--Richard Dawkins, Oxford
University
"This book rights some of the intellectual wrongs that have been
perpetrated on sociobiology and certain of its practitioners by
individuals who either do not understand what sociobiologists
really are saying or who have subverted the truth in pursuit of
their own agendas. Not everyone will agree with Alcock's
conclusions, but everyone will have to reckon with them--to the
delight of the sociobiologists and the chagrin of their
critics."--Paul W. Sherman,
Cornell University
"Darwinist heavyweight Alcock understands what's at stake in
evolution as well as any scientist living.... The author argues
against the competing blank-slate 'culture is all' theory, and he
dispels the misconception that sociobiology is in any way an
ideological endorsement of racism, sexism or the social dominance
of the rich over the poor.... This is an important and necessary
reappraisal of humankind's place in the Darwinist puzzle--one that
will
undoubtedly provoke renewed debate."--Publishers Weekly
"A clear, evocative, and accurate account of the history and content on the subject, inviting to the student and the general reader alike."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University "It doesn't matter whether you call it sociobiology, behavioral ecology, evolutinoary psychology or even selfish genery, John Alcock shows that triumph is exactly the right word. It is a field of research in its mature growing season, with new young scientists flocking to join in. Alcock captures the active spirit of this once-controversial subject perfectly."--Richard Dawkins, Oxford University "This book rights some of the intellectual wrongs that have been perpetrated on sociobiology and certain of its practitioners by individuals who either do not understand what sociobiologists really are saying or who have subverted the truth in pursuit of their own agendas. Not everyone will agree with Alcock's conclusions, but everyone will have to reckon with them--to the delight of the sociobiologists and the chagrin of their critics."--Paul W. Sherman, Cornell University "Darwinist heavyweight Alcock understands what's at stake in evolution as well as any scientist living.... The author argues against the competing blank-slate 'culture is all' theory, and he dispels the misconception that sociobiology is in any way an ideological endorsement of racism, sexism or the social dominance of the rich over the poor.... This is an important and necessary reappraisal of humankind's place in the Darwinist puzzle--one that will undoubtedly provoke renewed debate."--Publishers Weekly "A clear, evocative, and accurate account of the history and content on the subject, inviting to the student and the general reader alike."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University "It doesn't matter whether you call it sociobiology, behavioral ecology, evolutinoary psychology or even selfish genery, John Alcock shows that triumph is exactly the right word. It is a field of research in its mature growing season, with new young scientists flocking to join in. Alcock captures the active spirit of this once-controversial subject perfectly."--Richard Dawkins, Oxford University "This book rights some of the intellectual wrongs that have been perpetrated on sociobiology and certain of its practitioners by individuals who either do not understand what sociobiologists really are saying or who have subverted the truth in pursuit of their own agendas. Not everyone will agree with Alcock's conclusions, but everyone will have to reckon with them--to the delight of the sociobiologists and the chagrin of their critics."--Paul W. Sherman, Cornell University "Darwinist heavyweight Alcock understands what's at stake in evolution as well as any scientist living.... The author argues against the competing blank-slate 'culture is all' theory, and he dispels the misconception that sociobiology is in any way an ideological endorsement of racism, sexism or the social dominance of the rich over the poor.... This is an important and necessary reappraisal of humankind's place in the Darwinist puzzle--one that will undoubtedly provoke renewed debate."--Publishers Weekly
For over 25 years, zealots on both sides of the debate over sociobiology have staged numerous attacks and counterattacks. Last year, in the essay anthology Alas, Poor Darwin (LJ 10/15/00), various writers launched targeted salvos at specific components of the sociobiological worldview. Now, biologist Alcock retaliates by dissecting, point by point, what he believes to be the errors of the theory's opponents. Their basic fault, he contends, is that they misunderstand the theory, misrepresent it for ideological purposes, or are simply uncomfortable with its implications. In separate chapters, he discusses what sociobiology is, what its subjects are, what it has taught us about nature (including human culture), and how it might be practically applied. Much effort is devoted to deconstructing the common allegation that, at its core, sociobiology reduces complex behaviors to mere acts of genetic determinism. It is unlikely that Alcock will win many converts, but his real audience seems not to be his opponents but rather the informed general public, who he believes have been influenced by the negative rhetoric, and also the next generation of biologists, to whom the torch will be passed. Anybody following this debate should also read Ullica Segerstrale's objective Defenders of the Truth (LJ 3/1/00). For academic and larger public libraries. Gregg Sapp, Science Lib., SUNY at Albany Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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