Product Description

Midgley exposes the illogical logic of poor doctrines that shelter themselves behind the prestige of science. Always at home when taking on the high priests of evolutionary theory - Dawkins, Wilson and their acolytes - she has described evolution as "the creation-myth of our age". In "Evolution As A Religion" she examines how science comes to be used as a substitute for religion and points out how badly that role distorts it. Her argument is insightful - a lively indictment of these misuses of science.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #174394 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
'A graceful, refreshing and enlightening book, applied philosophy that is relevant, timely and metaphysical in the best sense.' - New York Times Book Review; 'Midgley is one of the most acute and penetrating voices in current moral philosophy. Her great gift is clarity, both of thought and, especially, of expression. To follow her reasoning is like watching a ballet dancer walking in the street: there is a litheness, a gracefulness, an ease of articulation, which attest to years of learning lightly worn.' - John Banville, Irish Times

About the Author
Mary Midgley is a philosopher with a special interest in ethics, human nature and science with a widespread international following for her work. Her latest book, Science and Poetry is also available through Routledge.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Account of the Power of Stories of Progress
This book is an interesting, intelligent read. It explains why it is so easy to confuse evolution with teleological stories of progress. It also traverses the boundaries between religion and science, and shows why science is not always as objective as it might seem. At the same time, Midgley is definitely not in the creationist camp. The last reviewer has clearly not read any recent philsophy of science, and has not understood the simple principle that science is not created or interpreted in a social vacuum, but is socially, culturally and historically situated knowledge. Midgely explains this clearly and with interesting examples. I would advise you read the book for yourself and be inspired!

A Brilliant Analysis
In this book, Mary Midgley tells us that the theory of evolution is not only a scientific theory, but also a political one. The new middle-class plutocrats of the Enlightenment needed a 'creation myth' that would explain why they deserved to rule. The answer was Darwin's theory: the survival of the fittest. They were there because they were the best. This new myth was needed to replace the old one of the aristocracy - the myth of Divine Grace - that is, that they were there because it had been ordained by God.
This does not, as Midgley points out, mean that evolution is not 'true'(we are perfectly aware now that there are no 'objective' ideas anyway) or that Darwin was consciously motivated by a need to provide a new political ideology. Evolution is an explanation of natural development that provides many functions. Midgeley is saying that its mythological function is at least as important as its scientific one.
This is a timely and important book. We are, unfortunately, still locked within the 'survival of the fittest' myth. There are modern political ideologists such as Richard Dawkins, masquerading as 'socio-biologists', who are trying to persuade us that we are naturally selfish. Midgley dismisses this view with a disdainful flourish by pointing out that the word 'selfish' has negative connotations in every known language: the idea that we might have evolved to value a negative quality simply does not make sense. ('He is a good man - he's so selfish.')
Writers like Dawkins are dangerous - they use mythology and try to persuade us it is science. They try to convince us that if we behave selfishly it is all right - we can't help it - it is 'in our genes.' They try to convince us that life in Western society is a race in which we all start equal, and those who are the best, win. What we are not told that those who win generally start way in front of the rest.
Midgely, with her 'Ockham's Razor' mind, is showing us that while myths provide a useful function for a time, they eventually wear out. The 'evolution myth' was useful in providing the middle-class with a rational explanation for their dominance, but it is now past its sell-by date.
Midgeley's arguments are sharp and need some concentration, but it is well worth the exercise. I found this book an absolutely thrilling read.

A Brilliant Analysis
In this book, Mary Midgley tells us that the theory of evolution is not only a scientific theory, but also a political one. The new middle-class plutocrats of the Enlightenment needed a 'creation myth' that would explain why they deserved to rule. The answer was Darwin's theory: the survival of the fittest. They were there because they were the best. This new myth was needed to replace the old one of the aristocracy - the myth of Divine Grace - that is, that they were there because it had been ordained by God.
This does not, as Midgley points out, mean that evolution is not 'true'(we are perfectly aware now that there are no 'objective' ideas anyway) or that Darwin was consciously motivated by a need to provide a new political ideology. Evolution is an explanation of natural development that provides many functions. Midgeley is saying that its mythological function is at least as important as its scientific one.
This is a timely and important book. We are, unfortunately, still locked within the 'survival of the fittest' myth. There are modern political ideologists such as Richard Dawkins, masquerading as 'socio-biologists', who are trying to persuade us that we are naturally selfish. Midgeley dismisses this view with a disdainful flourish by pointing out that the word 'selfish' has negative connotations in every known language: the idea that we might have evolved to value a negative quality simply does not make sense. ('He is a good man - he's so selfish.')
Writers like Dawkins are dangerous - they use mythology and try to persuade us it is science. They try to convince us that if we behave selfishly it is all right - we can't help it - it is 'in our genes.' They try to convince us that life in Western society is a race in which we all start equal, and those who are the best, win. What we are not told that those who win generally start way in front of the rest. Well what does it matter? It's all in the genes.
Midgely, with her 'Ockham's Razor' mind, is showing us that while myths provide a useful function for a time, they eventually wear out. The 'evolution myth' was useful in providing the middle-class with a rational explanation for their dominance, but it is now past its sell-by date.
Midgley's arguments are sharp and need some concentration, but it is well worth the exercise. I found this book an absolutely thrilling read.