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For courses in evolution, creationism or as a supplemental item in
biology and/or biological anthropology courses.Darwin and the Bible
helps readers to understand the nature, history and passions behind
the debate over scientific and religious versions of creation and
human origins. Darwin and the Bible: The Cultural Confrontation is
about the history and nature of the disputes over human origins
that arose with the publication of Charles Darwin's book, Origin of
Species in 1859. The readings in the text provide the, historical,
theological, social and political backgrounds of the debate. Rather
than trying to demonstrate the truth of Darwinian evolution, this
book seeks to help the reader understand why the debate over Darwin
and the Bible remains as contentious as ever. The book seeks to
examine why Darwin's theory of evolution appears threatening to
some people, and, likewise, to help understand why some scientists
often react with such emotion to challenges to their views. The
contributors include biological scientists, social scientists,
social historians, and proponents of the importance of God, faith,
and religion in peoples lives.
Americans increasingly blame the failures of minority individuals
in our society on "racial" inferiority. Anthropologist Mark Nathan
Cohen argues cogently that the problems are cultural, not "racial,"
and that they are rooted in the assumptions of mainstream American
culture, not in the biological or cultural failings of "others." By
summarizing scientific evidence proving that "races" do not exist
and that few biological traits actually correlate with the color of
one's skin, Cohen shows that differences in ability cannot be
linked to "race." The growing gap between rich and poor and the
economic subordination of minority groups, he says, are rooted in
the arbitrary rules that govern American society. Culture
constrains our ability to understand and appreciate the actions of
others and often prevents us from seeing the consequences of our
own actions or realizing our alternatives. American perceptions of
what constitute merit, health, hygiene, freedom, progress,
property, economics, justice-and even our own history-are
distorted. Our insistence that ours is the best or only view
promotes intolerance and racism. Cohen shows that definitions of
intelligence, IQ tests, hiring practices, and evaluations of job
performance contain many more cultural biases than we recognize and
thus restrict the opportunities of minority individuals. By
breaking down American cultural assumptions, Cohen offers a strong
defense of affirmative action and multicultural education. He
concludes with some suggestions for the future-to end the racism
and indifference to one another that mark our society.
Civilized nations popularly assume that "primitive" societies are
poor, ill, and malnourished and that progress through civilization
automatically implies improved health. In this provocative book,
Mark Nathan Cohen challenges this belief. Using findings from
epidemiology, anthropology, and archaeology, Cohen provides
fascinating evidence about the actual effects of civilization on
health, suggesting that some aspects of "progress" create as many
health problems as they prevent or cure. "[This book] is certain to
become a classic-a prominent and respected source on this subject
for years into the future.... If you want to read something that
will make you think, reflect, and reconsider, Cohen's Health and
the Rise of Civilization is for you."-S. Boyd Eaton, Los Angeles
Times Book Review "A major accomplishment. Cohen is a broad and
original thinker who states his views in direct and accessible
prose.... This is a book that should be read by everyone interested
in disease, civilization, and the human condition."-David
Courtwright, Journal of the History of Medicine "Cohen has done his
homework extraordinarily well, and the coverage of the biomedical,
nutritional, demographic, and ethnographic literature about
foragers and low energy agriculturalists is excellent.... The book
deserves a wide readership and a central place in our professional
libraries. As a scholarly summary it is without parallel."-Henry
Harpending, American Ethnologist "Deserves to be read by
anthropologists concerned with health, medical personnel
responsible for communities, and any medical anthropologists....
Indeed, it could provide great profit and entertainment to the
general reader."-George T. Nurse, Current Anthropology
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