'Biophilia' is the term coined by Edward O. Wilson to describe what he believes is humanity's innate affinity for the natural world. In his landmark book 'Biophilia' he examined how our tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes might be a biologically based need, integral to our development as individuals and as a species. That idea has caught the imagination of diverse thinkers."The Biophilia Hypothesis" brings together the views of some of the most creative scientists of our time, each attempting to amplify and refine the concept of biophilia. The variety of perspectives -- psychological, biological, cultural, symbolic, and aesthetic -- frame the theoretical issues by presenting empirical evidence that supports or refutes the hypothesis. Numerous examples illustrate the idea that biophilia and its converse, biophobia, have a genetic component: fear, and even full-blown phobias of snakes and spiders are quick to develop with very little negative reinforcement, while more threatening modern artifacts -- knives, guns, automobiles -- rarely elicit such a response people find trees that are climbable and have a broad, umbrella-like canopy more attractive than trees without these characteristics people would rather look at water, green vegetation, or flowers than built structures of glass and concrete The biophilia hypothesis, if substantiated, provides a powerful argument for the conservation of biological diversity. More important, it implies serious consequences for our well-being as society becomes further estranged from the natural world. Relentless environmental destruction could have a significant impact on our quality of life, not just materially but psychologically and evenspiritually.
The Biophilia Hypothesis (Shearwater Book)
and over 2 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £2.33
Trade in The Biophilia Hypothesis (A Shearwater book) for an Amazon Gift Card of up to £2.33, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
BIOPHILIA, IF IT exists, and I believe it exists, is the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
BIOPHILIA, IF IT exists, and I believe it exists, is the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A short comment on 'The Biophilia Hypothesis'...
Following up from E. O. Wilson's stunningly moving 'Biophilia: the Human Bond With Other Species', this volume takes the reader on a scintillating journey through how we feel about our world. The concept of 'biophilia' - that humans have evolved to affiliate with aspects of our natural environment - is brilliantly developed by a number of authors in their respective essays. The reader 's emotions resonate with the writing, and the reader's brain hums with ideas as the authors continually provoke one to think deeper.
This is a serious volume, and an important one. We would do well do study it, follow it up, and as a result, improve the way we live in our unique world.
Following up from E. O. Wilson's stunningly moving 'Biophilia: the Human Bond With Other Species', this volume takes the reader on a scintillating journey through how we feel about our world. The concept of 'biophilia' - that humans have evolved to affiliate with aspects of our natural environment - is brilliantly developed by a number of authors in their respective essays. The reader 's emotions resonate with the writing, and the reader's brain hums with ideas as the authors continually provoke one to think deeper.
This is a serious volume, and an important one. We would do well do study it, follow it up, and as a result, improve the way we live in our unique world.
Format:Hardcover|Verified Purchase
This book manages to represent well the human capacity for an innate longing to living systems. It is portrayed in a western, scientific and comprehensive manner which can occasionally become laborious. The positive effect of this though is that you really get a grasp of the work that has gone into this study and it makes the findings all the more incredible. I found the notion that human beings do have a well formed intimacy with the natural world fascinating, and this biophilia is in us all. The effects on our mental and physical well being is also comprehensively analysed and demonstrates that human beings and nature are basically one and the same and we must do more to reconnect, and in doing so enlighten us all to 'eudaimonia' - to put it simply.
Aside from this book, which I found enlightening, is the reality that in our world there are many actors who find this 'truth' a bitter pill to swallow. But swallow it they must. Read this book, and share it with all those who you love. Peace.
Aside from this book, which I found enlightening, is the reality that in our world there are many actors who find this 'truth' a bitter pill to swallow. But swallow it they must. Read this book, and share it with all those who you love. Peace.
By Pedro Calaza
Format:Paperback|Verified Purchase
A complementary book of the first Biophilia book that incorporate new perspectives and explains us the particularities of biophilia hypothesis.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews
3.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Difficult but important
Human beings are deeply psychologically attached to nature and the sooner we realize that, the better off we'll be. Why are houseplants so popular? Read more
Published on 4 July 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
This book is more postmodernism jibberish
In Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectual's Abuse of Science, postmodernists are taken to task for distorting physics and math through poetic license that says nothing and... Read more
Published on 29 May 1999
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sorry, but the authors got it all backwards
The great biologist Edward O. Wilson noted that human beings seem to have some constants in what they like in the natural world. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 1998
New customer? Start here.
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Science & Nature > Biological Sciences > Animal Sciences
- Books > Science & Nature > Environment & Ecology > Ecology > Animal Ecology
- Books > Science & Nature > Mathematics > Popular Maths
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Biology > Animal Sciences
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Philosophy
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
