From the late nineteenth century onwards religion gave way to science as the dominant force in society. This led to a questioning of the principle of free will—if the workings of the human mind could be reduced to purely physiological explanations, then what place was there for human agency and self-improvement? Smith takes an in-depth look at the problem of free will through the prism of different disciplines. Physiology, psychology, philosophy, evolutionary theory, ethics, history and sociology all played a part in the debates that took place. His subtly nuanced navigation through these arguments has much to contribute to our understanding of Victorian and Edwardian science and culture, as well as having relevance to current debates on the role of genes in determining behaviour.
| ISBN: | 9780822964766 |
| Publication date: | 16th December 2016 |
| Author: | Roger Smith |
| Publisher: | University of Pittsburgh Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 288 pages |
| Series: | Science and Culture in the Nineteenth Century |
| Genres: |
History of science |