Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Basic Books (1992), Paperback, 220 pages
Description
The co-discoverer of the "split brain" theory tells how science is recasting the age-old question of nature versus nurture to create a startling new view of human behavior. Recent discoveries suggest that natural selection affects not only physical characteristics but also mental processes, from learning to substance abuse.
User reviews
LibraryThing member selfunreflecting
I enjoyed Gazzaniga's clear and concise prose. The beginning chapters had me really rooting for selectionist theory. It seems to explain finally how there can exist so much apparent diversity among natural organisms, yet also universal trends which underlie that diversity. I wanted Gazzaniga to
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convince me. He does fairly well at explaining how processes at a micro level are guided by selectionism, but the evidence and the explanations he proffers become more and more superficial as the phenomena grow in complexity - which is not all his fault. The research might have been lacking. The only reason the lack of investigative support finally compelled me to knock off two stars is how he nonetheless tries to slip extremely bold claims under the radar with little to no backup. For instance he denigrates the right hemisphere of the brain, going so far as to suggest it has less functional capability than a primate's, with scant experimental findings. The experiments concerning brain lateralization to which he does allude do not conclusively prove anything that he seems to think they prove, which suggests to the reader that he is extrapolating from the findings with strong preconceptions. Makes one wonder what other research he 'colored in' with his own mental taint. I appreciate finding out about selectionism from Nature's Mind, but would recommend going elsewhere for information about it. Show Less
Language
Physical description
220 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
0465048633 / 9780465048632