Science as a contemporary myth
the philosophy of Mary Midgley
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2178-6224v20i2p11-36Keywords:
Mary Midgley, Scientific reductionism, Selfish gene, Nature-nurture dichotomy, Nature of Science (NOS), Scientific epistemology, Richard DawkinsAbstract
The book “The myths we live by” was published in 2004, by the British philosopher Mary Midgley (1919-2018) versing on scientific and moral philosophy. The book, a vast collection of her main articles, chapters, books and speeches, verse upon the presence of the myths in human life and the role that science occupies substituting the historical presence of religious beliefs. The present article aims to present and discuss the philosopher's thought, where she defends a scientific antireduccionist position, presents critics to the genecentric view of Richard Dawkins and pursues an integration of dualities such as mind-body and that of natural and human sciences. In Midgley's understanding, the dualistic approach that opposes objective/subjective views hinders the analysis of human phenomena. Her proposal is to reduce the conceptual separation between humans and other animals, understanding humanity as a continuum with nature. Her philosophy highlights that our ideas and interpretations of science are critical to our understanding of humanity, culture and the world that surrounds us.
References
ABRANTES, Paulo Cesar Coelho. Natureza e cultura. Ciência & Ambiente, 48: 7-21, 2014. Available at: <https://cienciaeambiente.com.br/shared-files/1737/?007-021.pdf>. Accessed on: 18 Feb. 2024.
ACOSTA, Alberto. O bom viver: Uma oportunidade para imaginar outros mundos. Trad. Tadeu Breda. São Paulo: Autonomia Literária, 2016.
ANTHONY, Andrew. Mary Midgley: a late stand for a philosophy with soul. The Guardian, London, 23 Mar., 2014. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/23/mary-midgley-philosopher-soul-human-consciousness. Accessed on 23 jul. 2024.
DAWKINS, Richard. O gene egoísta. [1976]. Trad. Rejane Rubino. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2007.
DAWKINS, Richard. In defense of selfish genes. Philosophy, 56 (218): 556-573, 1981.
DENNETT, Daniel Clement. O contato imediato de Hume. Pp. 28-35, in: DENNETT, Daniel Clement. A ideia perigosa de Darwin. Trad. Talita M. Rodrigues. Rio de Janeiro: Rocco, 1998.
DUNKER, Christian Ingo. Prefácio. Pp: 7-18, in: McKINNON, Susan. Genética neoliberal: uma crítica antropológica da psicologia evolucionista. Trad. Humberto do Amaral. São Paulo: Ubu, 2021.
DYER, Nat. Mary Midgley (1919-2108). Philosophy now. 140, 2020. Available at: https://philosophynow.org/issues/140/Mary_
Midgley_1919-2018. Accessed on: 23 jul. 2024.
ELSE, Lis. Mary, Mary quite contrary. New Scientist, 172: 48-51, November, 2001. Available at: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg17223154-800-mary-mary-quite-contrary/ Accessed on 23 Jul. 2024.
HORKHEIMER, Max. Cultura. Pp: 175-191, in: HORKHEIMER, Max. Critical theory I. Trad. Hilde Cohn. São Paulo: Perspectiva, 1990.
HUME, David. Dialogues concerning natural religion. 2nd ed. London: [s. n.], 1779.
LEWIS-WILLIAMS, David. The mind in the cave. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002.
McELWAIN, Gregory. Mary Midgley: An introduction. London: Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2020.
MIDGLEY, Mary. Gene-juggling. Philosophy, 54 (210): 439-458, 1979.
MIDGLEY, Mary. Selfish genes and social Darwinism. Philosophy, 58 (225): 365-577, 1983.
MIDGLEY, Mary. Beast and man: the roots of human nature. [1978]. London: Routledge, 2002.
MIDGLEY, Mary. The Myths We Live By. [2004]. London: Routledge, 2011.
MOTYKA, John. Mary Midgley, 99, moral philosopher for the general reader, is dead. The New York Times, Obituaries, 15 Oct., 2018. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/
obituaries/mary-midgley-dead.html. Accessed on: 23 jul. 2024.
MURRIETA, Rui Sérgio Sereni; PRADO, Helbert Medeiros; BATARQUINI, Bruno Tripode; BATARQUINI, Renan Tripode. Neolítico: domesticação e a origem da complexidade social. Pp: 282-318, in: NEVES, Walter Alves; JUNIOR, Miguel José Rangel; MURRIETA, Rui Sérgio Sereni. (Orgs.). Assim caminhou a humanidade. São Paulo: Palas Athena, 2015.
OYAMA, Susan. The Ontogeny of Information. 2. ed. Durham: Duke University Press, 2000.
SHERMER, Michael. In Darwin’s shadow: the life and science of Alfred Russel Wallace. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Filosofia e História da Biologia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The published manuscripts become the property of the journal Philosophy and History of Biology, and the authors accept the terms of this license and agree to assign the copyright for publication, in addition to agreeing with the publication's commitment to offering open access to all of its content. The information and concepts issued in signed papers are the sole responsibility of their authors.
cademia.edu
