The idea of human nature is centuries old. Yet epithets like 'human greed', 'natural inequalities' and 'you can't change the world' still underpin discussion in everyday life as well as in the academic arena.

Human Nature Debate challenges the fixity of such notions and argues that the manifestations of the human nature idea are socially and politically - rather than philosophically - grounded. The book's scope is wide, spanning the social science disciplines and, unlike other texts in the field, incorporates everyday social and political examples into the academic.

Cowen demonstrates how theories of human nature must be related to their intellectual, historical and social roots by analysing biological, psychological and social models, assessing the impacts of Freudianism, behaviourism, existentialism and Marxism upon social theory, policy and caring professions, and evaluating the political significance of racist and sexist accounts. The book covers the issues of women and human nature and feminist critiques and acquaints the reader with a variety of social thinkers.

About the Author
Harry Cowen is Field Chair, Sociological Studies at Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education. He is the contributor to various publications and has taught across the range of social sciences.

Reviews
'Eloquently expresses the enormous significance of assumptions about human nature to social policy analysis and teaching' -- Social Policy



Book Information
ISBN 9780745307411
Author Harry Cowen
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Pluto Press
Publisher Pluto Press
Weight(grams) 293g