Review by Choice Review
Though many contemporary philosophical articles and books deal with human nature indirectly, very few take on this large topic directly. In The Ascent of Man, Harris (emer., College of William and Mary) tackles this age-old question with a simple, direct writing style that does not skimp on complex details. He carefully argues his case against two views: essentialist views, which tend to be "top-down," for instance, that an immortal soul is introduced into the world from a metaphysically distinct realm; and anti-essentialist views, which tend to be "bottom-up," in that human nature is socially constructed. Harris maintains that human nature is best explained by his nonessentialist view: human nature supervenes on a cluster of properties that developed in a particular way through biological and cultural history. Chapters deal with issues in biology, supernatural experience, material culture, and neuroscience, among other topics. The upshot is an original account of human nature that attempts to account for the wide differences among people. No small feat. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and graduate students; professionals/practitioners. P. Jenkins Marywood University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
