Ten Theories of Human Nature
By: Leslie Stevenson, David L. Haberman.
Contributors: Haberman, David L., 1952-; Stevenson, Leslie Forster.
Edition: 3rd ed.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
Subjects: Philosophical anthropology
Description: Ten Theories of Human Nature compresses into a small space the essence of such thinkers as Plato, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Jean-Paul Sartre, B.F. Skinner, and Konrad Lorenz. Moreover, the authors juxtapose the ideas of these and other thinkers in a way that helps us to understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature.

We see, for instance, how Skinner's theories, which assert the primacy of learned behavior, are undercut by Lorenz's studies of animals, which suggest that complex behavior can occur prior to learning. To bring these comparisons into sharp relief, the book examines each theorist on four points - on the nature of the universe, on the nature of humanity, on the ills of the world, and on the proposed cure for these ills.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Rev. and expanded ed. of: Seven theories of human nature. 2nd ed. 1987.
Table of contents: title: Preface
pagenum: ix; label: Part I
title: Introduction; label: Chapter 1
title: Rival Theories—and Critical Assessment of Them
pagenum: 3; label: Part II
title: Three Ancient Religious Traditions; label: Chapter 2
title: Confucianism: The Way of the Sages by David L. Haberman
pagenum: 25; label: Chapter 3
title: Upanishadic Hinduism: Quest for Ultimate Knowledge by David L. Haberman
pagenum: 45; label: Chapter 4
title: The Bible: Humanity in Relation to God
pagenum: 68; label: Part III
title: Five Philosophical Thinkers; label: Chapter 5
title: Plato: The Rule of Reason
pagenum: 89; label: Chapter 6
title: Kant: Reason and Freedom, History and Grace
pagenum: 110; label: Chapter 7
title: Marx: The Economic Basis of Human Nature
pagenum: 130; label: Chapter 8
title: Freud: The Unconscious Basis of Mind
pagenum: 149; label: Chapter 9
title: Sartre: Radical Freedom
pagenum: 169; label: Part IV
title: Two Samples of Scientific Theorizing About Human Nature; label: Chapter 10
title: Behavioral Psychology: Skinner on Conditioning
pagenum: 189; label: Chapter 11
title: Evolutionary Psychology: Lorenz on Aggression
pagenum: 207; label: Part V
title: Conclusion; label: Chapter 12
title: Toward a Unified Understanding: Nine Types of Psychology
pagenum: 225; title: Index
pagenum: 235