Abstract
(1) PROF. J. B. S. HALDANE'S book is, as he says, a mixed bag. It consists of a number of essays, mostly short: and one piece of fiction (a thriller of correct pedigree, by John Buchan out of H. G. Wells). Some of the essays are no more than good popular journalism, some are more substantial, but all are worth reading. There is a certain unity of purpose running through them, making the book philosophical in the wide sense. This purpose is to consider the way in which scientific knowledge, or lack of it, affects human life and society. Civilisation cannot stand still but must either develop or decay. Which course it takes depends upon whether we use scientific knowledge to cut our own throats or to reorganise society. Many of the subjects dealt with by Prof. Haldane are of acute interest.
(1) The Inequality of Man: and other Essays.
By J. B. S. Haldane. Pp. ix + 295. (London: Chatto and Windus, 1932.) 7s. 6d. net.
(2) Leben und Erkennen: Vorarbeiten zu einer biologischen Philosophie.
Von Prof. Gustav Wolff. Pp. 442. (München: Ernest Reinhardt, 1933.) 11.50 gold marks.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
R., A. (1) The Inequality of Man: and other Essays (2) Leben und Erkennen: Vorarbeiten zu einer biologischen Philosophie. Nature 131, 529–530 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131529a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131529a0