The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the EnvironmentIsland Press, 30 июн. 2008 г. - Всего страниц: 472 In humanity’s more than 100,000 year history, we have evolved from vulnerable creatures clawing sustenance from Earth to a sophisticated global society manipulating every inch of it. In short, we have become the dominant animal. Why, then, are we creating a world that threatens our own species? What can we do to change the current trajectory toward more climate change, increased famine, and epidemic disease? Renowned Stanford scientists Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich believe that intelligently addressing those questions depends on a clear understanding of how we evolved and how and why we’re changing the planet in ways that darken our descendants’ future. The Dominant Animal arms readers with that knowledge, tracing the interplay between environmental change and genetic and cultural evolution since the dawn of humanity. In lucid and engaging prose, they describe how Homo sapiens adapted to their surroundings, eventually developing the vibrant cultures, vast scientific knowledge, and technological wizardry we know today. But the Ehrlichs also explore the flip side of this triumphant story of innovation and conquest. As we clear forests to raise crops and build cities, lace the continents with highways, and create chemicals never before seen in nature, we may be undermining our own supremacy. The threats of environmental damage are clear from the daily headlines, but the outcome is far from destined. Humanity can again adapt—if we learn from our evolutionary past. Those lessons are crystallized in The Dominant Animal. Tackling the fundamental challenge of the human predicament, Paul and Anne Ehrlich offer a vivid and unique exploration of our origins, our evolution, and our future. |
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Стр. 3
... occurred largely in response to changing environments, and both, in turn, have been responsible for dramatic environmental alterations. Knowledge of these reciprocal evolution-environment interactions is critical to our 3 Prologue.
... occurred largely in response to changing environments, and both, in turn, have been responsible for dramatic environmental alterations. Knowledge of these reciprocal evolution-environment interactions is critical to our 3 Prologue.
Стр. 4
... interactions is critical to our ability to make wise decisions affecting the long-term success of our species and of ... interact and how they have changed over time. Having anything close to this level of knowledge is something new in ...
... interactions is critical to our ability to make wise decisions affecting the long-term success of our species and of ... interact and how they have changed over time. Having anything close to this level of knowledge is something new in ...
Стр. 6
... interactions with one another and with the biophysical world in which we evolved, and how we came to dominate land and water, atmosphere, microbes (maybe!), plants, and animals. To understand the roles we play in our social and ...
... interactions with one another and with the biophysical world in which we evolved, and how we came to dominate land and water, atmosphere, microbes (maybe!), plants, and animals. To understand the roles we play in our social and ...
Стр. 7
... interaction must be viewed together. That bacteria can evolve genetically to be resistant to the antibiotics people add ... interactions is critical to tasks such as preventing epidemics and designing optimal fishing strategies. Prologue 7.
... interaction must be viewed together. That bacteria can evolve genetically to be resistant to the antibiotics people add ... interactions is critical to tasks such as preventing epidemics and designing optimal fishing strategies. Prologue 7.
Стр. 11
... interactions with their environments are likely to differ. Such variation was also long recognized in the characteristics of domesticated plants and animals—wheat with grain that was hard or easy to harvest, cows that gave more or less ...
... interactions with their environments are likely to differ. Such variation was also long recognized in the characteristics of domesticated plants and animals—wheat with grain that was hard or easy to harvest, cows that gave more or less ...
Содержание
1 | |
3 | |
9 | |
35 | |
54 | |
Of Genes and Culture | 68 |
Cultural Evolution How We Relate to One Another | 97 |
Perception Evolution and Beliefs | 119 |
A New Imperative | 234 |
Altering the Global Atmosphere | 255 |
Energy Are We Running Out of It? | 290 |
Saving Our Natural Capital | 310 |
Governance Tackling Unanticipated Consequences | 331 |
Epilogue | 363 |
Postscript | 369 |
Glossary | 377 |
The Ups and Downs of Populations | 140 |
History as Cultural Evolution | 158 |
Cycles of Life and Death | 172 |
Ecosystems and Human Domination of Earth | 193 |
Consumption and Its Costs | 207 |
Notes | 401 |
Selected Bibliography | 413 |
Acknowledgments | 437 |
Index | 441 |
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The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich,Anne H. Ehrlich Ограниченный просмотр - 2008 |
The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich,Anne H. Ehrlich Недоступно для просмотра - 2009 |
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