Theories of Human Nature - Softcover

Loptson, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1551113880 ISBN 13: 9781551113883

Publisher: Broadview Press Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

This book explores the idea of human nature and the many understandings of it put forward by such diverse figures as Aristotle, Rousseau, Marx, Freud, Darwin and E.O. Wilson. Each chapter looks at a different theory and offers a concise explanation, and assesses its plausibility. Beyond that, however, Loptson does not attempt to fit each theory into a mould. Some chapters deal with the ideas of only one thinker, some with a variety of related positions (such as those on liberalism and feminism). A clear distinction is made between theories of human nature and the political theories which so often follow from them. For the new edition revisions have been made throughout, and a postscript ("Do Humans Have a Nature?") has been added.

About this title

Review

"This is a very fine text--engagingly written and full of wide learning without any trace of pedantry. The quotations and bibliographies are excellent, and Peter Loptson's judgments are consistently wise and culturally sensitive. It will be valuable both for those new to the theories it describes and to those who have reflected on them before. Good philosophy isn't often as enjoyable to read as this is."--Terence Penelhum

"I cannot think of a better book to which to refer someone who wants to understand in a short compass what Aristotle, liberalism, Rousseau, Marx, or feminism are all about."--Julian Young "Dialogue "

"I cannot think of a better book to which to refer someone who wants to understand in a short compass what Aristotle, liberalism, Rousseau, Marx, or feminism are all about." -- Julian Young, University of Auckland, Dialogue

"This is a very fine text--engagingly written and full of wide learning without any trace of pedantry. The quotations and bibliographies are excellent, and Peter Loptson's judgments are consistently wise and culturally sensitive. It will be valuable both for those new to the theories it describes and to those who have reflected on them before. Good philosophy isn't often as enjoyable to read as this is." -- Terence Penelhum, University of Calgary

"I cannot think of a better book to which to refer someone who wants to understand in a short compass what Aristotle, liberalism, Rousseau, Marx, or feminism are all about." -- Julian Young, University of Auckland, Dialogue

"This is a very fine text--engagingly written and full of wide learning without any trace of pedantry. The quotations and bibliographies are excellent, and Peter Loptson's judgments are consistently wise and culturally sensitive. It will be valuable both for those new to the theories it describes and to those who have reflected on them before. Good philosophy isn't often as enjoyable to read as this is." -- Terence Penelhum, University of Calgary

"I cannot think of a better book to which to refer someone who wants to understand in a short compass what Aristotle, liberalism, Rousseau, Marx, or feminism are all about." -- Julian Young, University of Auckland, Dialogue

From the Back Cover

This book explores the idea of human nature and the many understandings of it put forward by such diverse figures as Aristotle, Rousseau, Marx, Freud, Darwin, and E.O. Wilson. Each chapter looks at a different theory and offers a concise explanation, assessing the theory's plausibility without forcing it into a mould. Some chapters deal with the ideas of only one thinker, while others (such as the chapters on liberalism and feminism) present a variety of different positions. A clear distinction is made between theories of human nature and the political theories which so often follow from them.

For the new edition, Loptson has addressed the new developments in the rapidly expanding genetic and paleontological record, as well as expanded the discussion of the Christian theory of human nature by incorporating the ideas of the Marx scholar and social theorist G.A. Cohen. The new edition has also been substantively revised and updated throughout.

Edition details

• Publisher: Broadview Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1551113880
• ISBN 13: 9781551113883
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 297