The implications of sociobiology as presented in Wilson's Sociobiology: The New Synthesis are examined to determine to what extent 1) sociobiology can subsume sociology; 2) sociobiology is antithetical to sociology; 3) sociobiology reflects a movement within sociology. Basic assumptions of sociobiology pertinent to sociology--degree of determinism, existence of human universals, and definitions of society, culture, and human nature--are scrutinized alongside Wilson's view of sociology as a scientific discipline. The thesis explores weaknesses of both sociology and sociobiology and concludes that sociobiology, in ignoring culture as a source of behavioral motivation, is limited in reducing the sociological perspective to a biological one. Although the two disciplines have antithetical foundations, sociology has already begun to incorporate selected aspects of the sociobiological perspective.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc504157 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Rowe, M. Edward (Montie Edward) |
| Contributors | Van Dyck, Harry R., Peek, Leon A., Glasgow, Charles Wayne |
| Publisher | North Texas State University |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | 124 leaves, Text |
| Rights | Public, Rowe, M. Edward (Montie Edward), Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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