- 1. Defenders of the Truth by Ullica Segerstrale is a profound exploration of the social and philosophical issues surrounding the concept of truth in the context of scientific discourse and public understanding. The book examines the roles that scientists, philosophers, and the lay public play in shaping our collective perception of truth, especially in the face of contemporary challenges such as misinformation and pseudoscience. Segerstrale delves into historical case studies, highlighting key figures and movements that have championed the pursuit of truth, while also confronting the obstacles they faced from various societal influences. Through a rigorous analysis, she underscores the importance of defending truth as a fundamental principle in a democratic society, advocating for a more informed and engaged citizenry that can discern reliable information in an era of rapid technological advancement and information overload. This work is not just an academic treatise, but a call to action for all who value knowledge and its critical place in human progress, making it a significant contribution to discussions on science, philosophy, and ethics.
What is the main subject of 'Defenders of the Truth' by Ullica Segerstrale?
A) The sociobiology debate
B) The artificial intelligence ethics debate
C) The climate change controversy
D) The quantum physics revolution
- 2. Who was the central figure in the sociobiology debate discussed in the book?
A) E.O. Wilson
B) Noam Chomsky
C) Richard Dawkins
D) Stephen Jay Gould
- 3. Which of Wilson's books sparked the sociobiology controversy?
A) Sociobiology: The New Synthesis
B) The Diversity of Life
C) The Selfish Gene
D) On Human Nature
- 4. What academic field did sociobiology aim to create?
A) Behavioral genetics
B) Study of social structures
C) Biology of social behavior
D) Evolutionary psychology
- 5. What was the primary criticism against sociobiology?
A) Poor scientific methodology
B) Lack of empirical evidence
C) Religious bias
D) Biological determinism
- 6. In what decade did the sociobiology debate primarily occur?
A) 1950s
B) 1970s
C) 1980s
D) 1990s
- 7. What organization criticized sociobiology in a public statement?
A) American Civil Liberties Union
B) National Academy of Sciences
C) American Psychological Association
D) Science for the People
- 8. What concept did critics fear sociobiology would justify?
A) Environmental destruction
B) Social inequality
C) Political corruption
D) Scientific fraud
- 9. What university were many key figures in the debate associated with?
A) Harvard University
B) University of Chicago
C) MIT
D) Stanford University
- 10. Which field emerged from sociobiology?
A) Molecular biology
B) Cognitive science
C) Evolutionary psychology
D) Neuroscience
- 11. What incident involved Wilson being doused with water?
A) 1978 AAAS meeting
B) Congressional hearing
C) Nobel Prize ceremony
D) Harvard commencement
- 12. What did critics call sociobiology?
A) Religious dogma
B) Scientific justification for status quo
C) Revolutionary breakthrough
D) Mathematical fiction
- 13. What aspect of science does Segerstrale focus on?
A) Laboratory techniques
B) Mathematical foundations
C) Technical details
D) Social dimensions
- 14. What did Gould and Lewontin's 'spandrels' paper argue?
A) Genes determine everything
B) Culture is irrelevant
C) Not all traits are adaptations
D) Sociobiology is completely correct
- 15. What broader issue does the book examine about science?
A) Laboratory safety protocols
B) Relationship between science and values
C) Funding allocation processes
D) Peer review mechanics
- 16. What academic background did Segerstrale bring to this study?
A) Physics
B) Molecular biology
C) Sociology of science
D) Economics
- 17. What did critics fear about sociobiology's political implications?
A) Advocacy for monarchy
B) Justification for discrimination
C) Support for anarchy
D) Promotion of communism
- 18. What lasting impact did the sociobiology debate have?
A) Ended evolutionary biology
B) Unified all social sciences
C) Resolved nature-nurture debate
D) Shaped evolutionary psychology
- 19. What year was E.O. Wilson's 'Sociobiology' published?
A) 1970
B) 1975
C) 1985
D) 1965
- 20. Wilson's work was primarily based on studies of what?
A) Dolphins
B) Primates
C) Birds
D) Ants
- 21. Which concept did Gould and Lewontin criticize as 'just-so stories'?
A) Structuralism
B) Adaptationism
C) Behaviorism
D) Functionalism
- 22. What did Wilson argue about altruism?
A) It didn't exist in animals
B) It was purely cultural
C) It was always selfish
D) It could evolve through kin selection
- 23. Which scientist co-authored 'Not in Our Genes' against sociobiology?
A) Richard Lewontin
B) E.O. Wilson
C) Stephen Jay Gould
D) Steven Pinker
- 24. What was the primary methodological approach criticized in sociobiology?
A) Field observation
B) Mathematical modeling
C) Laboratory experimentation
D) Extrapolation from animals to humans
- 25. Which concept was central to Wilson's sociobiology?
A) Inclusive fitness
B) Quantum entanglement
C) String theory
D) Plate tectonics
- 26. What was Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning book?
A) The Origin of Species
B) On Human Nature
C) The Double Helix
D) The Selfish Gene
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