{"product_id":"aping-mankind-neuromania-darwinitis-and-the-misrepresentation-of-humanity-9781844652730","title":"Aping Mankind: Neuromania  Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn a devastating critique Raymond Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness  behaviour  culture and society.  While readily acknowledging the astounding progress neuroscience has made in helping us understand how the brain works  Tallis directs his guns at neurosciences dark companion  \"Neuromania\" as he describes it  the belief that brain activity is not merely a necessary but a sufficient condition for human consciousness and that consequently our everyday behaviour can be entirely understood in neural terms.  With the formidable acuity and precision of both clinician and philosopher  Tallis dismantles the idea that \"we are our brains\"  which has given rise to a plethora of neuro-prefixed pseudo-disciplines laying claim to explain everything from art and literature to criminality and religious belief  and shows it to be confused and fallacious  and an abuse of the prestige of science  one that sidesteps a whole range of mindbody problems.  The belief that human beings can be understood essentially in biological terms is a serious obstacle  argues Tallis  to clear thinking about what human beings are and what they might become. To explain everyday behaviour in Darwinian terms and to identify human consciousness with the activity of the evolved brain denies human uniqueness  and by minimising the differences between us and our nearest animal kin  misrepresents what we are  offering a grotesquely simplified and degrading account of humanity. We are  shows Tallis  infinitely more interesting and complex than we appear in the mirror of biologism.  Combative  fearless and always thought-provoking  Aping Mankind is an important book  one that scientists  cultural commentators and policy-makers cannot ignore.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45648138633269,"sku":"ByrdShop_1844652734","price":52.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781844652730.jpg?v=1781710715","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/aping-mankind-neuromania-darwinitis-and-the-misrepresentation-of-humanity-9781844652730","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}