Adapting Minds: Evolutionary Psychology and the Persistent Quest for Human Nature (Bradford Books)

( Was human nature designed by natural selection in the P...)

Was human nature designed by natural selection in the Pleistocene epoch? The dominant view in evolutionary psychology holds that it was -- that our psychological adaptations were designed tens of thousands of years ago to solve problems faced by our hunter-gatherer ancestors. In this provocative and lively book, David Buller examines in detail the major claims of evolutionary psychology -- the paradigm popularized by Steven Pinker in The Blank Slate and by David Buss in The Evolution of Desire -- and rejects them all. This does not mean that we cannot apply evolutionary theory to human psychology, says Buller, but that the conventional wisdom in evolutionary psychology is misguided.Evolutionary psychology employs a kind of reverse engineering to explain the evolved design of the mind, figuring out the adaptive problems our ancestors faced and then inferring the psychological adaptations that evolved to solve them. In the carefully argued central chapters of Adapting Minds, Buller scrutinizes several of evolutionary psychology's most highly publicized "discoveries," including "discriminative parental solicitude" (the idea that stepparents abuse their stepchildren at a higher rate than genetic parents abuse their biological children). Drawing on a wide range of empirical research, including his own large-scale study of child abuse, he shows that none is actually supported by the evidence.Buller argues that our minds are not adapted to the Pleistocene, but, like the immune system, are continually adapting, over both evolutionary time and individual lifetimes. We must move beyond the reigning orthodoxy of evolutionary psychology to reach an accurate understanding of how human psychology is influenced by evolution. When we do, Buller claims, we will abandon not only the quest for human nature but the very idea of human nature itself.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262524600/?tag=2022091-20

Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind   [ECOTHERAPY] [Paperback]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008L56JVU/?tag=2022091-20

A Neurocomputational Perspective: The Nature of Mind and the Structure of Science

(If we are to solve the central problems in the philosophy...)

If we are to solve the central problems in the philosophy of science, Paul Churchland argues, we must draw heavily on the resources of the emerging sciences of the mind/brain. In "A Neurocomputational Perspective, "Churchland illustrates the fertility of the concepts and data drawn from the study of the brain and from the study of artificial networks that model the brain. These concepts bring an unexpected coherence to scattered issues in the philosophy of science, new solutions to old philosophical problems, and new possibilities of science itself. "A Neurocomputational Perspective "collects the most influential of Churchland's recent essays in the philosophy of mind, and introduces a number of ground breaking new essays in the philosophy of science. The essays in part 1 form a systematic treatment of the major problems in the philosophy of mind, as seen from the perspective of the philosophy of science and also from the perspective of computational neuroscience and connectionist AI. The nature of mental representations, of sensory qualia, of psychological explanation and of human self understanding all receive significant new treatment, and Churchland reaffirms his well known position that our "folk psychology" must eventually be reduced, perhaps to a mature cognitive neurobiology, or else be displaced by some new framework that does cohere with emerging theories of brain function. In part 2, Churchland provides a coherent and unified alternative conception, in neurocomputational terms of the many issues central to the philosophy of science. These include the nature of theories, the theory-ladenness of perception, the nature of conceptual unification and theoretical simplicity, thenature of paradigms, the kinematics and dynamics of conceptual change, the nature of abductive inference, and the nature of explanatory understanding. Collectively these present a new conception of science. Paul M. Churchland is Professor of Philosophy and member of the Cognitive Science Faculty at the University of California at San Diego. A Bradford Book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262031515/?tag=2022091-20

A Neurocomputational Perspective: The Nature of Mind and the Structure of Science

(If we are to solve the central problems in the philosophy...)

If we are to solve the central problems in the philosophy of science, Paul Churchland argues, we must draw heavily on the resources of the emerging sciences of the mind/brain. In "A Neurocomputational Perspective, "Churchland illustrates the fertility of the concepts and data drawn from the study of the brain and from the study of artificial networks that model the brain. These concepts bring an unexpected coherence to scattered issues in the philosophy of science, new solutions to old philosophical problems, and new possibilities of science itself. "A Neurocomputational Perspective "collects the most influential of Churchland's recent essays in the philosophy of mind, and introduces a number of ground breaking new essays in the philosophy of science. The essays in part 1 form a systematic treatment of the major problems in the philosophy of mind, as seen from the perspective of the philosophy of science and also from the perspective of computational neuroscience and connectionist AI. The nature of mental representations, of sensory qualia, of psychological explanation and of human self understanding all receive significant new treatment, and Churchland reaffirms his well known position that our "folk psychology" must eventually be reduced, perhaps to a mature cognitive neurobiology, or else be displaced by some new framework that does cohere with emerging theories of brain function. In part 2, Churchland provides a coherent and unified alternative conception, in neurocomputational terms of the many issues central to the philosophy of science. These include the nature of theories, the theory-ladenness of perception, the nature of conceptual unification and theoretical simplicity, thenature of paradigms, the kinematics and dynamics of conceptual change, the nature of abductive inference, and the nature of explanatory understanding. Collectively these present a new conception of science. Paul M. Churchland is Professor of Philosophy and member of the Cognitive Science Faculty at the University of California at San Diego. A Bradford Book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262031515/?tag=2022091-20

The Ingenious Mind of Nature: Deciphering the Patterns of Man, Society, and the Universe (Path in Psychology)

( George Hall - teacher, historian, engineer, and compute...)

George Hall - teacher, historian, engineer, and computer analyst - uniquely draws upon the competing perspectives of traditional science, the exciting new science of chaos, and the burgeoning and important tenets of complexity theory, catastrophe theory, and fuzzy logic to look for a common theme. All of these perspectives, he finds, are fundamentally united by a common theme: the crucial patterns of elements and their dynamic change over time. Order - be it the growth of a fetus or the rumbling shift of continents - evolves because these patterns are themselves the blueprint and the "programs" by which nature shapes our awe-inspiring universe. Hall takes this elegant concept and carries it from the simplest phenomena to the most complex, including the evolution of the species. He then extends these concepts beyond the physical sciences, into the fascinating provinces of philosophy, computer programming, psychology, economics, political science, international relations, law, and ethics. In doing so, he tackles the challenging question of human behavior. Since we humans have initiative and can sometimes change the natural course of events, how can we find a system to understand our own actions and the workings of society at large? This captivating book explains the mechanics of change and provides a provocative concept that accounts for the growth and decline of all systems, be it the universe at large, the miracle of life on earth, or our own thought processes as we contemplate and unlock the mysteries around us. This evocative perspective on nature offers food for thought to general readers and scientists alike by illuminating the ingenious patterns that influence the course of humanity and the universe.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306455714/?tag=2022091-20

Understanding the Alcoholic's Mind: The Nature of Craving and How to Control It

(Despite the immense obstacles they face, many alcoholics ...)

Despite the immense obstacles they face, many alcoholics do manage to recover. In this groundbreaking book, Arnold M. Ludwig--a doctor with over twenty-five years of experience working with alcoholics--goes inside the minds of alcoholics in order to explain the behaviors and thought processes they use to get and stay sober. Whether alcoholics achieve recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, a church, counseling, hospitalization, or entirely of their own initiative, the basic methods remain essentially the same. This book offers the first detailed examination of these successful methods. Ludwig has discovered that in most cases a lasting recovery can only begin after certain crucial attitude changes occur. Regardless of the motivation of alcoholics, powerful forces lure them back to drink. To remain sober, alcoholics not only must recognize these forces and the dangerous frame of mind that fuels them, but also must use a variety of techniques for resisting temptation. Recovery involves far more than simply not drinking; it means a sober life style. Over the years, Ludwig has worked with over one thousand alcoholics from all walks of life and within many different settings, including hospital clinics, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, detoxification centers, and private homes. Using clinical vignettes, research findings, and personal anecdotes, he documents the basic principles necessary for conquering craving and achieving recovery. Ludwig offers an optimistic message: no matter how bad things get, there is always hope. This book will provide insights not only for recovering alcoholics, but also for their families, counselors, and doctors.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195059182/?tag=2022091-20

Herbs for the Mind: What Science Tells Us about Nature's Remedies for Depression, Stress, Memory Loss, and Insomnia

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572304766/?tag=2022091-20

The Ingenious Mind of Nature: Deciphering the Patterns of Man, Society, and the Universe (Path in Psychology)

( George Hall - teacher, historian, engineer, and compute...)

George Hall - teacher, historian, engineer, and computer analyst - uniquely draws upon the competing perspectives of traditional science, the exciting new science of chaos, and the burgeoning and important tenets of complexity theory, catastrophe theory, and fuzzy logic to look for a common theme. All of these perspectives, he finds, are fundamentally united by a common theme: the crucial patterns of elements and their dynamic change over time. Order - be it the growth of a fetus or the rumbling shift of continents - evolves because these patterns are themselves the blueprint and the "programs" by which nature shapes our awe-inspiring universe. Hall takes this elegant concept and carries it from the simplest phenomena to the most complex, including the evolution of the species. He then extends these concepts beyond the physical sciences, into the fascinating provinces of philosophy, computer programming, psychology, economics, political science, international relations, law, and ethics. In doing so, he tackles the challenging question of human behavior. Since we humans have initiative and can sometimes change the natural course of events, how can we find a system to understand our own actions and the workings of society at large? This captivating book explains the mechanics of change and provides a provocative concept that accounts for the growth and decline of all systems, be it the universe at large, the miracle of life on earth, or our own thought processes as we contemplate and unlock the mysteries around us. This evocative perspective on nature offers food for thought to general readers and scientists alike by illuminating the ingenious patterns that influence the course of humanity and the universe.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306455714/?tag=2022091-20

Understanding the Alcoholic's Mind: The Nature of Craving and How to Control It

(Despite the immense obstacles they face, many alcoholics ...)

Despite the immense obstacles they face, many alcoholics do manage to recover. In this groundbreaking book, Arnold M. Ludwig--a doctor with over twenty-five years of experience working with alcoholics--goes inside the minds of alcoholics in order to explain the behaviors and thought processes they use to get and stay sober. Whether alcoholics achieve recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, a church, counseling, hospitalization, or entirely of their own initiative, the basic methods remain essentially the same. This book offers the first detailed examination of these successful methods. Ludwig has discovered that in most cases a lasting recovery can only begin after certain crucial attitude changes occur. Regardless of the motivation of alcoholics, powerful forces lure them back to drink. To remain sober, alcoholics not only must recognize these forces and the dangerous frame of mind that fuels them, but also must use a variety of techniques for resisting temptation. Recovery involves far more than simply not drinking; it means a sober life style. Over the years, Ludwig has worked with over one thousand alcoholics from all walks of life and within many different settings, including hospital clinics, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, detoxification centers, and private homes. Using clinical vignettes, research findings, and personal anecdotes, he documents the basic principles necessary for conquering craving and achieving recovery. Ludwig offers an optimistic message: no matter how bad things get, there is always hope. This book will provide insights not only for recovering alcoholics, but also for their families, counselors, and doctors.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195059182/?tag=2022091-20