Darwin's Psychology
The Theatre of Agency
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:8th Oct '20
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Darwin has long been hailed as forefather to behavioural science, especially nowadays, with the growing popularity of evolutionary psychologies. Yet, until now, his contribution to the field of psychology has been somewhat understated. This is the first book ever to examine the riches of what Darwin himself wrote about psychological matters. It unearths a Darwin new to contemporary science, whose first concern is the agency of organisms -- from which he derives both his psychology, and his theory of evolution. A deep reading of Darwin's writings on climbing plants and babies, blushing and bower-birds, worms and facial movements, shows that, for Darwin, evolution does not explain everything about human action. Group-life and culture are also keys, whether we discuss the dynamics of conscience or the dramas of desire. Thus his treatment of facial actions sets out from the anatomy and physiology of human facial movements, and shows how these gain meanings through their recognition by others. A discussion of blushing extends his theory to the way reading others' expressions rebounds on ourselves -- I care about how I think you read me. This dynamic proves central to how Darwin understands sexual desire, the production of conscience and of social standards through group dynamics, and the role of culture in human agency. Presenting a new Darwin to science, and showing how widely Darwin's understanding of evolution and agency has been misunderstood and misrepresented in biology and the social sciences, this important new book lights a new way forward for those who want to build psychology on the foundation of evolutionary biology
In Darwin's Psychology, Bradley provides a necessary corrective to such reductive readings of Darwin's work. Through admirably extensive research and lucid argumentation, the author successfully paints a much richer picture of his achievements ... The volume serves as a testament to close observation and a spirit of wonder that allows nature, in all of its complexity, to genuinely surprise us rather than conforming to our prejudices. * Hayley Clatterbuck, Quarterly Review of Biology *
The book's central thesis is that Darwin did not believe evolution accounts for "everything about human action." Climbing plants, the development of babies (the author has made positive contributions describing how infants socialize), facial expression, and problem-solving in earthworms—all are included, indicating that such phenomena in such disparate organisms cannot explain human behavior. Historians and philosophers of science are liberally cited, along with many of Darwin's contemporaries. * J. S. Schwartz, emeritus, CUNY College of Staten Island, Choice *
Bradley's argument is refreshing and original and is well worth reading, not only for his inventive interventions in the philosophy of psychology, but also for his creative and persuasive interpretations of Darwin's approach to the evolution of mind and behavior. * Greg Priest, Department of History, Stanford University, USA *
The heart of Bradley's project-and of his interpretation of Darwin-is a refocus away from natural selection and toward the evolutionary agency of individual organisms...and his delineation of the lessons we can draw from understanding Darwin's theory and practice of psychology, are innovative, insightful, and persuasive. * Greg Priest, Stanford University Department of History *
Darwin's theory and practice of psychology, are innovative, insightful, and persuasive. His book merits, and repays, careful study. * HPLS *
ISBN: 9780198708216
Dimensions: 241mm x 163mm x 29mm
Weight: 810g
432 pages