
Re: Anyone else finished reading the book?
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Can you give a reference to the criticism you mention of Bloom's terminology (preferably an online reference)?
I haven't read any peer reviews of Bloom's book... did a quick search, and didn't find anything that looked especially promising in that vein. I'll try a more thorough search, though - if it is a scientific expedition, certainly would expect peer reviews.
The specific "disservice" criticism referred is in the Open Letter thread that Jeremy started. The criticisms I have personally with Bloom are scattered through the various threads here. They include things like his characterization of a superorganism - one of my first reactions was surprise (and dismay) at the absence of references to any organismicist literature in the bibliography, and later by the disparity between Bloom's use of that concept and its use by scientist. Another would be Bloom's use of memes. Etc.
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It seems to me that both Howard's books are intended for a general readership and are not scientific treatises.
Yes, but that makes it all the more important for care to be taken in how concepts are presented, no?
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Same for "The Selfish Gene", which I would be happy to criticise as a piece of science (I think the central conclusions false and the methods without scientific merit).
*Ani flashes a thumbs up at ya*
I had a similar reaction to The Selfish Gene.