Animal nature and human nature

Based on a series of lectures, this book covers the whole cosmos of questions about evolution and biochemistry and genetics and mind/matter, beginning with the animal as a ""self-programming organism."" Thorpe examines sensory mechanisms and learning potentialities in ways that try to get beyond old-fashioned instinct theory, and he does show the overwhelming complexity of lower animals. But as he approaches the central question of the differences between humans and animals, he tends to bog down in philosophical simplicities. He is torn between a desire to escape reductionism and an invincibly reductionist belief that science consists of ""explaining the higher in terms of the lower."" So the human phenomena he sees to be all-important -- artistic powers, advanced conceptualization, self-aware consciousness -- end up in the realm of the ""ungraspable,"" the ""inexplicable,"" and finally the dilemma is solved by defining man as ""essentially a religious animal."" And Thorpe's own regard for the creative powers of man does not prevent him from calmly suggesting drugs as a cure for social unrest. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.