Review by Choice Review
Vining (law, Univ. of Michigan) uses words well, even elegantly. His book is a combination legal argument and sermon. The title comes from experiments done on song sparrows. Vining asks, "What in thought and actual belief stands between us and deafening a child as we might deafen a sparrow?" He attacks "total theories," which attempt to explain everything; he clearly believes that too much attention has been paid to such ideas, pushed by scientists and others. He attacks some prominent scientists who have promoted such views, including physicist Steven Weinberg, molecular biologist Francois Jacob, and neurobiologist Jean-Pierre Changeux. Vining believes that their theories, with their thoroughgoing reductionism, have seen the world as only material, not spiritual. (He does not argue for any particular religious view, but rather that there is a spiritual dimension to life; however, there is no room for this in the views of some scientists.) Though the questions raised are philosophical or religious, unfortunately some see them as scientific. It is unlikely that any of those Vining attacks will be persuaded. Good notes, index, and bibliography. Useful in collections covering the philosophy of science. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above. M. LaBar Southern Wesleyan University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
