Beyond Versus

The Struggle to Understand the Interaction of Nature and Nurture

Ebook
On sale May 23, 2014 | 296 Pages | 9780262324151

See Additional Formats
Why the “nature versus nurture” debate persists despite widespread recognition that human traits arise from the interaction of nature and nurture.

If everyone now agrees that human traits arise not from nature or nurture but from the interaction of nature and nurture, why does the “nature versus nurture” debate persist? In Beyond Versus, James Tabery argues that the persistence stems from a century-long struggle to understand the interaction of nature and nurture—a struggle to define what the interaction of nature and nurture is, how it should be investigated, and what counts as evidence for it.

Tabery examines past episodes in the nature versus nurture debates, offers a contemporary philosophical perspective on them, and considers the future of research on the interaction of nature and nurture. From the eugenics controversy of the 1930s and the race and IQ controversy of the 1970s to the twenty-first-century debate over the causes of depression, Tabery argues, the polarization in these discussions can be attributed to what he calls an “explanatory divide”—a disagreement over how explanation works in science, which in turn has created two very different concepts of interaction. Drawing on recent developments in the philosophy of science, Tabery offers a way to bridge this explanatory divide and these different concepts integratively. Looking to the future, Tabery evaluates the ethical issues that surround genetic testing for genes implicated in interactions of nature and nurture, pointing to what the future does (and does not) hold for a science that continues to make headlines and raise controversy.

Preface xi
1 Introduction 1
Part I: The Interaction Debates 13
2 The Origin (s) of Interaction: Interaction in the Eugenics Controversy 15
3 Race, Genetics, and IQ: Interaction in the IQ Controversy 43
4 Its Rise, Its Fall, Its Rise? Interaction in the Twenty-First Century 73
Part II: Bridging the Explanatory Divide 99
5 Population Thinking about Mechanisms: An Integrative Relationship 101
6 The Interaction of Nature and Nurture: An Integrated Concept 133
Part III: Genetic Testing for Interaction 165
7 Disarming the “ Genetic Predisposition to Violence ” : The Dangers of Mischaracterizing Interaction 167
8 Of Dogs, Daycare, and Discipline: A “ Genetic Guide to Parenting ” ? 187
Notes 209
References 223
Index 267
James Tabery is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and member of the Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities at the University of Utah.

About

Why the “nature versus nurture” debate persists despite widespread recognition that human traits arise from the interaction of nature and nurture.

If everyone now agrees that human traits arise not from nature or nurture but from the interaction of nature and nurture, why does the “nature versus nurture” debate persist? In Beyond Versus, James Tabery argues that the persistence stems from a century-long struggle to understand the interaction of nature and nurture—a struggle to define what the interaction of nature and nurture is, how it should be investigated, and what counts as evidence for it.

Tabery examines past episodes in the nature versus nurture debates, offers a contemporary philosophical perspective on them, and considers the future of research on the interaction of nature and nurture. From the eugenics controversy of the 1930s and the race and IQ controversy of the 1970s to the twenty-first-century debate over the causes of depression, Tabery argues, the polarization in these discussions can be attributed to what he calls an “explanatory divide”—a disagreement over how explanation works in science, which in turn has created two very different concepts of interaction. Drawing on recent developments in the philosophy of science, Tabery offers a way to bridge this explanatory divide and these different concepts integratively. Looking to the future, Tabery evaluates the ethical issues that surround genetic testing for genes implicated in interactions of nature and nurture, pointing to what the future does (and does not) hold for a science that continues to make headlines and raise controversy.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
1 Introduction 1
Part I: The Interaction Debates 13
2 The Origin (s) of Interaction: Interaction in the Eugenics Controversy 15
3 Race, Genetics, and IQ: Interaction in the IQ Controversy 43
4 Its Rise, Its Fall, Its Rise? Interaction in the Twenty-First Century 73
Part II: Bridging the Explanatory Divide 99
5 Population Thinking about Mechanisms: An Integrative Relationship 101
6 The Interaction of Nature and Nurture: An Integrated Concept 133
Part III: Genetic Testing for Interaction 165
7 Disarming the “ Genetic Predisposition to Violence ” : The Dangers of Mischaracterizing Interaction 167
8 Of Dogs, Daycare, and Discipline: A “ Genetic Guide to Parenting ” ? 187
Notes 209
References 223
Index 267

Author

James Tabery is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and member of the Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities at the University of Utah.

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more