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Through a Glass Brightly: Using Science to See Our Species as We Really Are
Human beings have long seen themselves as the center of the universe, the apple of God's eye, specially-created creatures who are somehow above and beyond the natural world. This viewpoint--a persistent paradigm of our own unique self-importance--is as dangerous as it is false.
In Through a Glass Brightly, noted scientist David P. Barash explores the process by which science has, throughout time, cut humanity "down to size," and how humanity has responded. A good paradigm is a tough thing to lose, especially when its replacement leaves us feeling more vulnerable and less special. And yet, as science has progressed, we find ourselves--like it or not--bereft of many of our most cherished beliefs, confronting an array of paradigms lost.
Barash models his argument around a set of "old" and "new" paradigms that define humanity's place in the universe. This new set of paradigms range from provocative revelations as to whether human beings are well designed, whether the universe has somehow been established with our species in mind (the so-called anthropic principle), whether life itself is inherently fragile, and whether Homo sapiens might someday be genetically combined with other species (and what that would mean for our self-image). Rather than seeing ourselves through a glass darkly, science enables us to perceive our strengths and weaknesses brightly and accurately at last, so that paradigms lost becomes wisdom gained. The result is a bracing, remarkably hopeful view of who we really are.
In Through a Glass Brightly, noted scientist David P. Barash explores the process by which science has, throughout time, cut humanity "down to size," and how humanity has responded. A good paradigm is a tough thing to lose, especially when its replacement leaves us feeling more vulnerable and less special. And yet, as science has progressed, we find ourselves--like it or not--bereft of many of our most cherished beliefs, confronting an array of paradigms lost.
Barash models his argument around a set of "old" and "new" paradigms that define humanity's place in the universe. This new set of paradigms range from provocative revelations as to whether human beings are well designed, whether the universe has somehow been established with our species in mind (the so-called anthropic principle), whether life itself is inherently fragile, and whether Homo sapiens might someday be genetically combined with other species (and what that would mean for our self-image). Rather than seeing ourselves through a glass darkly, science enables us to perceive our strengths and weaknesses brightly and accurately at last, so that paradigms lost becomes wisdom gained. The result is a bracing, remarkably hopeful view of who we really are.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2018
8 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
David Philip Barash
45 books64 followersDavid P. Barash is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, and is notable for books on Human aggression, Peace Studies, and the sexual behavior of animals and people. He has written approximately 30 books in total. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Harpur College, Binghamton University, and a Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1970. He taught at the State University of New York at Oneonta, and then accepted a permanent position at the University of Washington.
His book Natural Selections: selfish altruists, honest liars and other realities of evolution is based on articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education and published in 2007 by Bellevue Literary Press. Immediately before that was Madame Bovary's Ovaries: a Darwinian look at literature, a popular but serious presentation of Darwinian literary criticism, jointly written with his daughter, Nanelle Rose Barash. He has also written over 230 scholarly articles and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, along with many other honors.
In 2008, a second edition of the textbook Peace and Conflict Studies co-authored with Charles P. Webel was published by Sage. In 2009, Columbia University Press published How Women Got Their Curves and Other Just-So Stories, a book on sex differentiation co-authored with Judith Eve Lipton. This was followed in 2010 by Strange Bedfellows: the surprising connection between sex, evolution and monogamy published by Bellevue Literary Press, and, in 2011, Payback: why we retaliate, redirect aggression and seek revenge, coauthored with Judith Eve Lipton and published by Oxford University Press. His book Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary puzzles of human nature appeared in 2012, also published by Oxford University Press, and in 2013, Sage published the 3rd edition of his text, Peace and Conflict Studies.
His book Natural Selections: selfish altruists, honest liars and other realities of evolution is based on articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education and published in 2007 by Bellevue Literary Press. Immediately before that was Madame Bovary's Ovaries: a Darwinian look at literature, a popular but serious presentation of Darwinian literary criticism, jointly written with his daughter, Nanelle Rose Barash. He has also written over 230 scholarly articles and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, along with many other honors.
In 2008, a second edition of the textbook Peace and Conflict Studies co-authored with Charles P. Webel was published by Sage. In 2009, Columbia University Press published How Women Got Their Curves and Other Just-So Stories, a book on sex differentiation co-authored with Judith Eve Lipton. This was followed in 2010 by Strange Bedfellows: the surprising connection between sex, evolution and monogamy published by Bellevue Literary Press, and, in 2011, Payback: why we retaliate, redirect aggression and seek revenge, coauthored with Judith Eve Lipton and published by Oxford University Press. His book Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary puzzles of human nature appeared in 2012, also published by Oxford University Press, and in 2013, Sage published the 3rd edition of his text, Peace and Conflict Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 31, 2018
Reading this philosophical and scientific book, I was reminded of an Indian story.
The god Indra, inflated beyond measure with self-importance, keeps adding to his palace. There is no end in sight. His despairing wife calls for help. A sage presents Indra with a vision of the countless Indras who came before him and who will come after him, and of the greater gods for whom all these Indras pass in just the blink of an eye. After this vision, Indra not only stops building, he is paralyzed and sees no purpose in his life. He must be shown that his actions do matter and he should continue to live his life.
In this thoughtful, provoking, humorous and ultimately uplifting book. Barash debunks anthropocentrism, cutting the human species down to size. He argues that as products of unplanned, contingent natural selection, individual humans and our species do not have intrinsic meaning. Still there can be meaning in how we choose to lead our lives. A bracing, rewarding read.
The god Indra, inflated beyond measure with self-importance, keeps adding to his palace. There is no end in sight. His despairing wife calls for help. A sage presents Indra with a vision of the countless Indras who came before him and who will come after him, and of the greater gods for whom all these Indras pass in just the blink of an eye. After this vision, Indra not only stops building, he is paralyzed and sees no purpose in his life. He must be shown that his actions do matter and he should continue to live his life.
In this thoughtful, provoking, humorous and ultimately uplifting book. Barash debunks anthropocentrism, cutting the human species down to size. He argues that as products of unplanned, contingent natural selection, individual humans and our species do not have intrinsic meaning. Still there can be meaning in how we choose to lead our lives. A bracing, rewarding read.
June 18, 2019
As I devoured this often brash, consistently logical, unfailingly thought-provoking, sometimes depressing, frequently optimistic, thoroughly enjoyable work by David P. Barash I felt as if the author had been eavesdropping on my inner musings for the last 50 years or so.
I have often thought the only thing that makes humans more special than any other species is the fact that we are not those other species. Here was Barash saying the same thing, though obviously much more eloquently.
I remember studying animal behavior in the 1970s, frustrated at the accepted and staunchly advanced standard that animals did not think or feel; I mentally protested lest I be branded as a pseudo-scientist should I speak out. Here was Barash reminding us that evolving from animals implies our shared natures, natures which include thinking and feeling.
I remember pushing back, viscerally, against that whole “God created man in his own image” catechismal thing, feeling it makes more sense the other way around, but the nuns and priests had those rubber-tipped, middle-finger-thick, wooden pointers which convinced me otherwise. Here was Barash agreeing while also reminding me, via Jonathan Swift, that “you cannot reason a person out of a position he did not reason himself into in the first place.”
This book covers so much more than the few examples I’ve mentioned, some of the most interesting include the nature of communication from an evolutionary standpoint, violence and humanity, the illusion of the self, and humanity’s place in the universe. Barash deals with each topic with engrossing clarity and ease, enlivening each discussion with relevant quotes from everyone from Spiderman and Dr. Seuss to Frans de Waal and Richard Dawkins. Well worth the read!
I have often thought the only thing that makes humans more special than any other species is the fact that we are not those other species. Here was Barash saying the same thing, though obviously much more eloquently.
I remember studying animal behavior in the 1970s, frustrated at the accepted and staunchly advanced standard that animals did not think or feel; I mentally protested lest I be branded as a pseudo-scientist should I speak out. Here was Barash reminding us that evolving from animals implies our shared natures, natures which include thinking and feeling.
I remember pushing back, viscerally, against that whole “God created man in his own image” catechismal thing, feeling it makes more sense the other way around, but the nuns and priests had those rubber-tipped, middle-finger-thick, wooden pointers which convinced me otherwise. Here was Barash agreeing while also reminding me, via Jonathan Swift, that “you cannot reason a person out of a position he did not reason himself into in the first place.”
This book covers so much more than the few examples I’ve mentioned, some of the most interesting include the nature of communication from an evolutionary standpoint, violence and humanity, the illusion of the self, and humanity’s place in the universe. Barash deals with each topic with engrossing clarity and ease, enlivening each discussion with relevant quotes from everyone from Spiderman and Dr. Seuss to Frans de Waal and Richard Dawkins. Well worth the read!
March 19, 2022
There are some interesting parts here, but overall the author was excessively wordy (the long intro is just a summary of the first part of the book), disdainful, and largely missing any new concepts that haven’t been trod over many times before. It was clearly dismissive of the audience who might believe his “old paradigm” concepts, so not intended as a dialogue or to bring the reader along. And the folks most likely to read this won’t find many new ideas here. Do not recommend, as there are better books on this topic out there.
August 9, 2018
Through the Glass Brightly is a very well written book, that tackles an equally interesting topic: How unique us humans are (or are not) in nature . The book challenges the view, of not only religions, that the human species is unique among all life on the planet, by using sound scientific arguments, and interesting anecdotes. I, personally, am in full agreement with the author in everything he says, and don't feel I need convincing, which is probably why I gave the book a somewhat low rating. To someone however who is on the fence, or is often in a position where they have to defend their beliefs, the book would be far more interesting.
The author often deviates from his topic, by providing interesting perspectives and explanations of various human behaviors. However, I must admit that I struggled a bit with the book when the language became too technical (although the author does seem to make efforts to make this a book for everyone). Overall an interesting read, even for someone who hasn't given much thought to the topic discussed.
The author often deviates from his topic, by providing interesting perspectives and explanations of various human behaviors. However, I must admit that I struggled a bit with the book when the language became too technical (although the author does seem to make efforts to make this a book for everyone). Overall an interesting read, even for someone who hasn't given much thought to the topic discussed.
April 1, 2019
The subtitle to this book says it all: using science to see our species as we really are. Each of the 16 chapters explores a different element in what it is to be human, and ends with the declaration of an old paradigm--succinctly dismantled in the narrative--and a new paradigm, the conclusion of the author's argument.
As a sociologist with some knowledge of anthropology, I was especially taken with the chapters that compared humans and other primates, the discussion of parents and children, the myth of monogamy and with the author's discussion of power. What humans have and the costs of that power--in the past, today, and into the future.
This book is not designed to convince persons who hold to certain beliefs, particularly that of the power of a Supreme Being over humans' actions. Rather, it holds fast to the notion that science tells the truth, something too often ignored or worse--denied--in today's world. A worthy read for anyone willing to retain an open mind and even, perhaps, to reconsider one's previous expectations.
As a sociologist with some knowledge of anthropology, I was especially taken with the chapters that compared humans and other primates, the discussion of parents and children, the myth of monogamy and with the author's discussion of power. What humans have and the costs of that power--in the past, today, and into the future.
This book is not designed to convince persons who hold to certain beliefs, particularly that of the power of a Supreme Being over humans' actions. Rather, it holds fast to the notion that science tells the truth, something too often ignored or worse--denied--in today's world. A worthy read for anyone willing to retain an open mind and even, perhaps, to reconsider one's previous expectations.
December 7, 2018
This is a book about humans, about what humans really are and how that differs from concepts that we humans like to have about ourselves. Eschewing fantasies and wishful thinking, the author uses information from scientific research to explore the human condition. He quickly skewers the idea of humanity having any sort of special place in the universe. Then he explores the true nature of humans. He discusses, for example, monogamy, stress between parents and children, conflict between individuals and between groups, and reasons for favoring family over others. In a chapter entitled “Who’s in Charge?” he discusses the influence that the millions of creatures living within each person (bacteria) have, and might have, on that person’s beliefs and actions. The book is clearly written and without scientific jargon. An interesting and informative read. I’m giving it 5 stars.
October 3, 2021
حتی اگر این کتاب ساده و کم حجم و کم ادعا را، تراویده از قلم یک زیستشناس تکاملی برجسته، آغازی کوتاه بر پایان تفرعنی بدانیم که با پیوندزدن دانش و قدرت، زیست را بر لبهٔ پرتگاه نابودی کشانده، شروع شایستهای در دستانمان خواهد بود تا، با پیوندزدن دانشی غیرانسانمحور با اخلاقی جهانروا و پیراسته از هرگونه خلافتی از جانب انسان، بار دیگر حیات را روی تنها سیارهٔ دستکم تاکنون شناخته شدهٔ محتوی آن، تکریم کنیم! و این، شروع کمی نیست.
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October 13, 2024The buddhist biology section was wicked, I fear death less every day. A lot of great info in here, I came already well convinced re: dispelling anthropocentrism, so the central message of this didn't coalesce into anything new, but there were more than enough goodies to keep me going.
David is a bit combative towards the sort of people the book is ostensibly trying to convince of its message, thus I'm not sure who this is for despite digging it
David is a bit combative towards the sort of people the book is ostensibly trying to convince of its message, thus I'm not sure who this is for despite digging it
June 22, 2020
A slaying of holy cows, Through a Glass Brightly passionately argues that science dethrones our human sense of self-import while offering an erudite, life-affirming, and sometimes riotously amusing look at ourselves. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2019...
December 28, 2024
It's strange how much time is spent explaining how monogamy is not natural. Yes, civilisation is not natural. It's man made. It's not a bad book but nothing eye opening as the title would suggest, a bit late to party, claiming the Earth orbits around the sun several hundred years after it's already been socially accepted.
June 2, 2019
Showed a lovely and articulate way of writing. Loved the first 9 chapters and then the later sections sometimes felt longwinded and off topic - overly generalised, but had really thoughtful points on human psychological and behavioural evolution.
June 30, 2019
If you're into paradigm busting, this is your book. Clearly written, articulate, passionate. Science-based, but draws from multiple disciplines. Up to date, culturally relevant. I read a lot of books like this... you can't get much better.
July 15, 2019
"The greatest mystery is not that we have been flung at random between the profusion of the earth and the galaxy of the stars, but that in this prison we can fashion images of ourselves sufficiently powerful to deny our nothingness." -André Malraux
August 13, 2018
A very well written book. An interesting read!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews