Editorial Review:

Over three previous editions, Ten Theories of Human Nature has been a remarkably popular introduction to some of the most influential developments in Western and Eastern thought. This thoroughly revised fourth edition features substantial new chapters on Aristotle and on evolutionary theories of human nature; the latter centers on Edward O. Wilson but also outlines the ideas of Emile Durkheim, B. F. Skinner, Nikolaas Tinbergen, Konrad Lorenz, Noam Chomsky, and recent evolutionary psychology. This edition also includes a rewritten introduction that invites readers (even if inclined toward fundamentalism, or to cultural relativism) to careful, critical thought about human nature; a useful new section that summarizes the history of ideas from the Stoics to the Enlightenment; and a new conclusion that suggests a way to synthesize the various theories.
Lucid and accessible, Ten Theories of Human Nature, 4/e, compresses into a small space the essence of such ancient traditions as Confucianism, Hinduism, and the Old and New Testaments as well as the theories of Plato, Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Jean-Paul Sartre. The authors juxtapose the ideas of these and other thinkers and traditions in a way that helps readers understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature. To encourage readers to think critically for themselves and to underscore the similarities and differences between the many theories, the book examines each one on four points--the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, the diagnosis of the ills of humanity, and the proposed cure for these problems. Ideal for introductory courses in human nature, philosophy, religious studies, and intellectual history, Ten Theories of Human Nature, 4/e, will engage and motivate students and other readers to consider how we can understand and improve both ourselves and human society.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Annoying chatty tone ruins good survey:

The author's notes at the beginning explain that the content of the book comes from Stevenson's first year mandatory class at a university in Scotland. Unfortunately, it was not really repackaged for a more general and sophisticated audience. So there's a lot of space wasted with reminders that, for example, Greek society was very different from ours or that we shouldn't dismiss Marx because of Lenin and Stalin. There are also annoying chatty asides, that feel like the kind of lecture tool required to grab... more info

A good one stop read:

I have used this book as an ethics instructor for six years. The book is useful in identifying the multiple influences upon our lives for how we make ethical decisions. Our religious perspectives and understanding of behavioral sciences find residence in our lives, whether we are aware or not. It is through these we are formed and make decisions. Stevenson and Haberman present overviews of Taoism, Hinduism, and Judaism, as well as behavorial sciences and philosophy by examining these theories' underlying... more info

Good Introductory-Level Survey of Human Nature:

I teach an introductory-level philosophy course at a university, and this is my main text. Whereas most intro-level books are divided by topic (epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, etc.), this one is helpful in that is organized by chapters that specifically deal with each theory of human nature. So when you read about Plato, for example, you will get a wealth of background material as well getting to see the implications of each theory for epistemology, ethics, etc. I think that this is a much more natural... more info

Ten Theories of Human Nature by Leslie Forster Stevenson [Paperback]:

Quality book. Received in a timely manner.

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