Sex, Science and Profits (Hardcover)

The question 'What is art?' is frequently debated - often by works of 'art' themselves. The question 'What is science?' appears to be discussed less often, and less publicly - though the answers could be even more revealing about our species...Some people see science as a public good, funded by governments and philanthropists, and performed by altruistic scientists for the benefit of mankind. Such people view science as progress. But others see science as a private good, driven by profit, promoted by businesses and certain institutions looking for economic and political power. Such science may be dangerous. In this original ground-breaking book in the tradition of Richard Dawkins and Jared Diamond, Terence Kealey shows that science is not a thing apart but rather, like trade and contract, embedded in human nature, having evolved on the evolutionary principles of natural and sexual selection. "Sex, Science and Profits" ranges across history to explore the nature of science, economics and philosophy. Starting with the Neolithic discovery of tools, this book explains the role of concubines in Ancient Egypt and the emergence of the Portuguese as Europe's premier seafaring explorers; questions the usefulness of patents, and describes how the race for technological progress plays out between nations, governments and corporations. Richly multi-disciplinary, witty, brilliant and thought-provoking, "Sex, Science and Profits" shows how an understanding of sexual and natural selection can transform our view of progress in economics, business and technology. It is an important and controversial book.