If Nietzsche were a narwhal : what animal intelligence reveals about human stupidity / Justin Gregg.
"If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal overturns everything we thought we knew about human intelligence, and asks the question: would humans be better off as narwhals? Or some other, less brainy species? There's a good argument to be made that humans might be a less successful animal species precisely because of our amazing, complex intelligence. All our unique gifts like language, math, and science do not make us happier or more "successful" (evolutionarily speaking) than other species. Our intelligence allowed us to split the atom, but we've harnessed that knowledge to make machines of war. We are uniquely susceptible to bullshit (though, cuttlefish may be the best liars in the animal kingdom); our bizarre obsession with lawns has contributed to the growing threat of climate change; we are sexually diverse like many species yet stand apart as homophobic; and discriminate among our own as if its natural, which it certainly is not. Is our intelligence more of a curse than a gift? As scientist Justin Gregg persuasively argues, there's an evolutionary reason why human intelligence isn't more prevalent in the animal kingdom. Simply put, non-human animals don't need it to be successful. And, miraculously, their success arrives without the added baggage of destroying themselves and the planet in the process."
Record details
- ISBN: 9780316388061
- ISBN: 0316388068
- Physical Description: 308 pages ; 25 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Little Brown & Company, 2022.
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (pages (269-291) and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | Introduction -- The why specialists: a story of hats, bets, and chicken butts -- To be honest: the power and pitfalls of lying -- Death wisdom: the downside of knowing the future -- The gay albatross around our necks: the problems with human morality - The mystery of the happy bee: it's time to talk about the "c" word -- Prognostic myopia: our shortsighted farsightedness -- Human exceptionalism: are we winning? -- Epilogue: Why save a slug? |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Cognition in animals. Animal intelligence. Intellect. |
Available copies
- 13 of 14 copies available at SPARK Libraries.
Holds
- 1 current hold with 14 total copies.
Show All Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abington Community Library | 591.513 GREGG (Text) | 50687011792457 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Albright Memorial Library | 591.513 GREGG (Text) | 50686016214152 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Altoona Area Public Library | 591.513 GRE (Text) | 33240004967306 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Bethel Tulpehocken Public Library | 591.513 GRE (Text) | 33249025374459 | Non-fiction | Available | - |
Carroll Valley Library | 591.513 GREGG (Text)
Endowment:
F. William and Helen Darrah Named Endowment, 2022
|
35740635867021 | Nonfiction | Available | - |
Lower Macungie Library | 591.513 GRE (Text) | 33400001558041 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Mason-Dixon Public Library | Adults 591.5 GRE Nonfiction (Text) | 34262000781001 | Main Room | Available | - |
Parkland Community Library | 591.513 GRE (Text) | 34422007271998 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Paul Smith Library of Southern York County | Adults 591.5 GRE Nonfiction (Text) | 34318001210406 | Adult Area | Available | - |
Allentown Public Library | 591.5 GREG (Text) | 34455006935312 | Adult Nonfiction 1st FL | Available | - |
Bethlehem Main Library | 591.513 (Text) | 33062009629826 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Easton Main Library | 591.513 G819i (Text) | 31901004631992 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Penn-Kidder Branch | 591.51 GRE (Text) | 420001001557399 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |