Genes, Determinism and God
Genes, Determinism and God
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Over the past centuries the pendulum has constantly swung between an emphasis on the role of either nature or nurture in shaping human destiny, a pendulum often energised by ideological considerations. In recent decades the flourishing of developmental biology, genomics, epigenetics and our increased understanding of neuronal plasticity have all helped to subvert such dichotomous notions. Nevertheless, the media still report the discovery of a gene 'for' this or that behaviour, and the field of behavioural genetics continues to extend its reach into the social sciences, reporting the heritability of such human traits as religiosity and political affiliation. There are many continuing challenges to notions of human freedom and moral responsibility, with consequent implications for social flourishing, the legal system and religious beliefs. In this book, Denis Alexander critically examines these challenges, concluding that genuine free will, often influenced by genetic variation, emerges from an integrated view of human personhood derived from contemporary biology.
- Proposes an integrated approach to science that also draws history, philosophy, law and theology into the discussion for an interdisciplinary level appeal
- Presents a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between science and theology that will be of interest to those in the science-religion field and, more generally, to philosophers and theologians, who feel the need to read up on other disciplines relevant to their own
- Subverts fatalistic ideas about one's future life, highlighting the important role of free will in mapping one's course through life
Reviews & endorsements
'Overall, Genes, Determinism and God is worth reading not just for the detail it provides on developments in genetics, but also for its thought-provoking pointers. Denis Alexander has achieved considerably more than his goal at the start of removing barriers to religious belief based on incorrect views of genetic determinism.' Celia Deane-Drummond, The Times Literary Supplement
'The genetic book of life, it seems, does not in the end offer any shortcuts to the meaning of human existence. Rather, like most sacred texts, it demands careful, patient, sceptical exegesis, which is exactly what Denis Alexander has granted it.' Nick Spencer, The Tablet
'All in all, this is a remarkable and highly informative overview.' David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer
'Denis Alexander brings us a feast of the biology of genetics, layered with legal and philosophical implications and garnished with a dollop of theological considerations.' Barbara Pfeffer Billauer, Metascience
'Anyone who wants to know the current state of scientific research in genetics, and its relevance to difficult issues about human development, including the vexed issue of sexual orientation, will find in this book a masterly and balanced survey. It comes from someone who is well aware of the enormous implications for theology of current research, and, in particular, its relevance to arguments about free will.' Roger Trigg, Theology
Product details
July 2017Adobe eBook Reader
9781108515443
0 pages
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- 1. Human personhood fragmented?: nature-nurture discourse from antiquity to Galton
- 2. Reifying the fragments?: nature-nurture discourse from Galton to the twenty-first century
- 3. The impact of the new genetics?: how contemporary biology is changing the landscape of ideas
- 4. Reshaping the matrix: integrating the human in contemporary biology
- 5. Is the worm determined?: gene variation and behaviour in animals
- 6. Prisoners of the genes?: understanding quantitative behavioural genetics
- 7. Behavioural molecules?: understanding molecular behavioural genetics
- 8. Mensa, mediocrity or meritocracy?: the genetics of intelligence, religion and politics
- 9. Gay genes?: genetics and sexual orientation
- 10. Not my fault?: the use of genetics in the legal system
- 11. Causality, emergence and freedom?: tackling some tough philosophical questions
- 12. Made in the image of God?: a conversation between genetics and theology.
