Book Summary of the Use and Abuse of Biology - 2361 Words

Part 1 Marshall Sahlins is one of the most prominent American anthropologists of our time. He holds the title of Charles F. Grey Distinguished Service Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago where he presently teaches. Marshall Sahlins, The Use and Abuse of Biology, is an excellent text, which attacks both the logical errors of sociobiology and its ideological distortions. His work focuses on demonstrating the power that culture has to shape peoples perceptions and actions and that culture has a unique power to motivate people, which is not derived from biology or for that matter any other of the natural sciences. In the text, The Use And Abuse of Biology, Sahlins reveals his true worries that culture can be†¦show more content†¦30). Sahlins gives mathematical formulas for kin loss contingent on the total number of descent groups and the actual rule of intermarriage between them. The author argues that biological inheritance is not an individual function, as a child does not receive his or her genetic makeup from either his or her parents. Furthermore, the matrilineal descent group is a single entity in an organic heritage: these members of that particular group according to mathematical formulation have a co-efficient relationship of 1. Sahlins also argues that the structure of social interest is not constituted by genetic factors of an individual nature. Yet, the theory of kinship dominates a large portion of the text and he explores kin selection. This theory of kin selection has been tested in Polynesia. The advantages of testing for kin selection in Polynesia are best put forward for these following reasons. First, Polynesian societies can afford structural conditions favorable for the operation of kin selection. Second, descent is bilaterally reckoned and Polynesians are renowned for the value the race as a whole attaches to genealogies. He explains that this formula is important as it accounts for altruism and a whole collection of socially undesirable behaviors. Behaviors that individuals often cannot abide are displayed by significant others in our communities such as greed or ingratitude or selfishness. These negativeShow MoreRelatedThe Manipulation Of Human Biology1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe manip ulation of human biology has always been a controversial issues. To many, purposefully changing the genetics of mankind is reminiscent of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and even the eugenics of Nazi Germany. However, genetic manipulation offers an unignorable potential to help many people live lives with fewer serious health issues. These two opposing viewpoints are why genetic manipulation, like the creation of designer babies, is so heated. 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