Adapting Minds: Evolutionary Psychology and the Persistent Quest for Human Nature
Encyclopedia
Adapting Minds: Evolutionary Psychology and the Persistent Quest for Human Nature is a book published by MIT Press
written by philosopher of science David Buller, piecing together his criticism of evolutionary psychology
. A large portion of the book is dedicated to a critique of empirical findings from three research groups in the field: that of David Buss
, that of Cosmides
and Tooby
, and that of Daly
and Wilson
.
The book got a strongly negative review from anthropologist Clark Barrett in the American Journal of Human Biology
who wrote: "Buller’s book has many useful elements, but it is based on simplistic assumptions and fallacious arguments that lead to faulty conclusions. If taken seriously, Buller’s denial of human nature would invalidate not only evolutionary psychology but also any field that attempts to produce generalizable knowledge about humans, including behavioral ecology, biological anthropology, and most branches of psychology, not to mention medicine."
MIT Press
The MIT Press is a university press affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts .-History:...
written by philosopher of science David Buller, piecing together his criticism of evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology is an approach in the social and natural sciences that examines psychological traits such as memory, perception, and language from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional...
. A large portion of the book is dedicated to a critique of empirical findings from three research groups in the field: that of David Buss
David Buss
David M. Buss is a professor of psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, known for his evolutionary psychology research on human sex differences in mate selection.-Biography:...
, that of Cosmides
Leda Cosmides
Leda Cosmides, is an American psychologist, who, together with anthropologist husband John Tooby, helped develop the field of evolutionary psychology....
and Tooby
John Tooby
John Tooby is an American anthropologist, who, together with psychologist wife Leda Cosmides, helped pioneer the field of evolutionary psychology....
, and that of Daly
Martin Daly
Martin Daly is a Professor of Psychology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and author of many influential papers on evolutionary psychology. Current research topics include an evolutionary perspective on risk-taking and interpersonal violence, especially male-male conflict and...
and Wilson
Margo Wilson
Margo Wilson was Professor of Psychology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Along with her husband and frequent research partner Martin Daly, she wrote many influential papers and books in the field of evolutionary psychology...
.
The book got a strongly negative review from anthropologist Clark Barrett in the American Journal of Human Biology
American Journal of Human Biology
The American Journal of Human Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering human biology. It is the official publication of the Human Biology Association...
who wrote: "Buller’s book has many useful elements, but it is based on simplistic assumptions and fallacious arguments that lead to faulty conclusions. If taken seriously, Buller’s denial of human nature would invalidate not only evolutionary psychology but also any field that attempts to produce generalizable knowledge about humans, including behavioral ecology, biological anthropology, and most branches of psychology, not to mention medicine."
External links
- Book page at Buller's university website