In Search of Human Nature: The Decline and Revival of Darwinism in American Social Thought

A great contribution to the evolution of the nature versus nurture debate, this book traces the history of the effect of Darwin's ideas on our view of human nature, through much of the 20th century. In doing so, Degler describes some unpleasant aspects of Darwin's ideas and writings that can really only be described as racist and sexist, and I'll spare you the details. For the most part, this is simply a very well written historical account of the social aspects of Darwinian thought, that objectively describes the main ideas of the prominent thinkers, including John Searle, who have contributed to the debate. A lot of emphasis is placed on the relationship between man and the so-called lower animals. Not written with an axe to grind, it's a pleasure to read. Incidentally, Steven Pinker has recently put in his two cents with The Blank Slate. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

This book does a good job of showing Darwin's influence in the social sciences and how Darwin has been used and misused to promote certain ideas. Starting off, the book discusses Darwinism and some contemporary philosophies that Darwinism influenced such as Spencerism and Lamarckism. If there was a goal this book sought to accomplish was to broaden in the minds of the non-professional the idea that Darwinism is relevant to the social sciences despite the abuses of those who misused Darwinism to promote the bigotry found in "social Darwinism." Not an earth-shattering book that will likely change the course of the studies of human nature, it never the less puts Darwinism in a more useful and meaningful place in understanding how humans evolved and the role culture and learning played in that evolution.

Through intellectual biohgraphies of numerous social thinkers, Carl Degler traces the evolving social implications of biological thought. Degler traces the theme in the writings of individuals, and in the thought of the public and policymakers. Degler's account only hints at the often ghoulish results (e.g., forced sterilizations). Degler, however, did not intend to fully document American crimes against humanity; he intended to offer the history of a certain theme in American intellectual life. Degler offers a fascinating account of the rise, staggering fall, and gradual comeback of Social Darwinism in American thought.