The Use and Abuse of Biology: An Anthropological Critique of Sociobiology

by Marshall Sahlins

Book Overview

A criticism of sociobiology by one of the world's foremost anthropologists This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0472766007
• Release Date: December 1976
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.6" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

Very criticized, but not well understood. Classic and excellent critic on Sociobiology

This book is very criticized by sociobiologist (the object of Sahlins's critic), but few seem to have understood the arguments. For example, Steven Pinker criticize Sahlins for calling sociobiology "vulgar" and for not perceived that the kin selection calculus is unconscious clearly showing that that he have not read this book (Segerstråle called this `ridiculous' and Maynard Smith suggested to call this "Sahlins Fallacy"). But Sahlins distinguish "vulgar sociobiology" (Lorenz) from "scientific sociobiology" (E.O.Wilson, Richard Alexander, etc), and Sahlins is well aware that the kin selection calculus can be unconscious (p.23), and E.O.Wilson is dubious concerning the consciousness of the calculus (p.24): Wilson say "intuitive calculus of blood tie" but also criticizes Hamilton: "human beings are keenly aware of their own blood lines and have the intelligence to plot intrigues" (Wilson, 1975:119 apud Sahlins, p.25). I think, Sahlins's main points are: - Culture is a absolute necessary condition for culture, but not sufficient. - There is no necessary relation between the cultural character of a given act and the motivation of people (Isomorphism thesis). - Sahlins not criticizes Kin selection per se, nor his application to human behavior per se, but that human societies cannot be explained by this principle. "My aims is to support the assertion that there is not a single system of marriage, postmarital residence, family organization, interpersonal kinship or common descent in human societies that does not set up a different calculus of relationship and social action than is indicated by the principles of kin selection".(p.26) - Sociobilogy is another kind of economic utilitarism with "optimization", and "maximization" instead "differential reproduction" as the principal process of natural selection. "All of Western science ridiculed the biology of Lisenko"(78), and sociobiology appear to be the western version of Lisenkoism.

A classical critique of sociobiology

In this book, Marshall Sahlins de-constructs the interpretation of human societies done by certain of the most eminents sociobiologists. He shows that certain elements of human nature and civilisation are not reductible to biological principles. He thus stresses the importance of anthropology as a science that contributes to understand the variety and unity of human cultures.