The End of the Empty Organism: Neurobiology and the Sciences of Human Action

by Elliott White

Overview

In a singularly fundamental challenge to the positions widespread among social scientists, White distances himself from the reductionist models of the human brain. He asserts, basing his thought on the authoritative findings of modern neuroscientists, the causal potency of human self-awareness. The acceptance of such a potential in mankind transforms the behavioral sciences into the science of human action.

Implicit in the evolutionary context of this perspective is a basic indeterminism inherent in human science. White stresses the central role of conscious purpose in human action and emphasizes the importance of choice and its consequences at the level of political community. In urging a consideration of the significance that neuroscience has for the behavioral sciences, White explores truly basic issues at the heart of those disciplines. He makes a persuasive case for interpreting human action as purposeful, conscious, choice-based, and cumulatively unpredictable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275943684
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/22/1992
Series:	Human Evolution, Behavior, and Intelligence Series
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Elliott White is professor of political science at Temple University, Tokyo campus. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago. Dr. White has edited Sociobiology and Human Politics (1981) and co-edited Biology and Bureaucracy (1986).

Table of Contents

Preface
The Empty Organism
The Organism
The End of the Empty Organism: The Coming of Classical Social Science
The Organism in the Evolutionary Process: The Implications for the Philosophy of Social Science
Organic Selection, Human Evolution and Human History
Self Direction and Political Action: Conscious Purpose, Emic Analysis, and Ongoing Political Biography
The Restoration of Politics as the Master Art
Bibliography
Index