Too Smart for our Own Good
The Ecological Predicament of Humankind

A groundbreaking work explaining our ecological predicament in the context of the first scientific theory of humankind's development.

Craig Dilworth (Author)

9780521764360, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 November 2009

548 pages, 60 b/w illus. 2 tables
25.4 x 17.8 x 3 cm, 1.12 kg

'… an excellent resource for students … The history of evolution, the glossary, the illustrations, and the persuasive arguments backed up by the comprehensive literature review add to the quality of the book. An impressive and informative undertaking. This book is a must read for those concerned about the future of the human race and hoping for lessons from the past.' Environments

We are destroying our natural environment at a constantly increasing pace, and in so doing undermining the preconditions of our own existence. Why is this so? This book reveals that our ecologically disruptive behaviour is in fact rooted in our very nature as a species. Drawing on evolution theory, biology, anthropology, archaeology, economics, environmental science and history, this book explains the ecological predicament of humankind by placing it in the context of the first scientific theory of our species' development, taking over where Darwin left off. The theory presented is applied in detail to the whole of our seven-million-year history. Due to its comprehensiveness, and in part thanks to its extensive glossary and index, this book can function as a compact encyclopædia covering the whole development of Homo sapiens. It would also suit a variety of courses in the life and social sciences. Most importantly, Too Smart for our Own Good makes evident the very core of the paradigm to which our species must shift if it is to survive. Anyone concerned about the future of humankind should read this groundbreaking work.

Preface
Introduction
1. Scientific ground rules
2. The new views in anthropology, archaeology and economics
3. Theoretical background to the vicious circle principle
4. The vicious circle principle of the development of humankind
5. The development of humankind
6. The vicious circle today
7. … and too dumb to change
Conclusion
Glossary
Notes
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Applied ecology [RNC], Animal ecology [PSVS], Plant ecology [PSTS], Evolution [PSAJ], Biology, life sciences [PS], Economics [KC], Sociology & anthropology [JH], Society & social sciences [J]