[tt] Amazon: Lee M. Silver: Challenging Nature:

Sat Nov 3 17:21:29 UTC 2007

Lee M. Silver: Challenging Nature: 
The Clash Between Biotechnology and Spirituality (Ecco)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060582685/ref=pe_ar_x8
[Might as well get a used hardcover for $1.50!]

List Price: $15.95
Our Price (cheap): $10.85

Also Available in: Hardcover $26.95, Our Price (cheap) $19.67
100 used & new from $1.50

Product Details
* Paperback: 464 pages
* Publisher: Harper Perennial; 1 edition (August 7, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0060582685
* ISBN-13: 978-0060582685
* Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
* Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #350,170
* In-Print Editions: Hardcover | All Editions

14 Reviews
5 star: 57% (8)
4 star: 28% (4)
3 star: (0)
2 star: (0)
1 star: 14% (2)
4.1 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Reviews

> From Publishers Weekly
Silver, a molecular biologist at Princeton, examines new dimensions
of the contentious debate between science and religion over cloning
and other biotechnologies, and brings fresh insights to it. Many
Western religious people believe biotechnology is an attempt to
play God and that human clones would be created not in God's image
but in the image of humankind. Such arguments rest on the nature of
humanity, and Silver points out that the only characteristic that
makes us human is not that we have a soul but that we have human
parents. Silver also explores the debate over genetically modified
foods and synthetic crops. He argues that the organic and natural
foods movements make their case on spiritual grounds, imbuing
Mother Nature with a spiritual force equal to the force of the
Christian God. Silver points out, however, that Mother Nature is a
violent, not a benevolent, deity, and can cause more disasters than
the making of synthetic foods ever will. Finally, Silver points out
that biotechnology presents little problem for Eastern religions
that believe in reincarnation. In the words of one Buddhist
scientist, therapeutic cloning "restarts the cycle of life."
Silver's provocative ideas and his graceful prose open new avenues
for discussion of the challenges that face science and
spirituality. (June 1)

> From Booklist
The archetype of mortal defiance, Prometheus has found a new
champion. Outspoken molecular biologist Silver argues that only
scientists willing to join Prometheus in challenging divine
prohibitions will ever deliver on the promise of new genetic
technologies. Although despairing of ever expunging spiritual
beliefs from liberal democracies altogether, Silver hopes that a
truly open and rational public dialogue will expose the folly of
continuing to allow religious fundamentalists to impose needless
restrictions on scientific research. It particularly galls Silver
that such religionists often confuse an ill-informed public by
cleverly wrapping their religious objectives in scientific
rhetoric. Surprisingly, Silver sees the Christian obstructionists
of the Religious Right finding allies among the left-leaning,
post-Christian devotees of nature. Both groups recoil from the
prospect of using new science to improve human genes or to
reengineer the plants and animals humans rely on for food. Both
groups, Silver asserts, fail to realize that humans have been
productively intervening in natural reproductive processes for
millennia--and should now use available tools to do so more
aggressively, both to minimize human suffering and to maximize
ecological health. The relentlessness with which Silver disputes
the views of his opponents will impress many readers--and alienate
others. But this book will surely fuel precisely the kind of debate
Silver recognizes as essential in a democracy sorting out
perplexing scientific possibilities. Bryce Christensen
______________________________________________________________

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 84 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging Christian and Gaian Gadflies at the
New Frontiers of Life, November 1, 2006
By Carl Flygare (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and
Spirituality at the New Frontiers of Life (Hardcover)
In "Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and Spirituality at
the New Frontiers of Life" molecular biologist Lee Silver defends
science and biotechnology from a perversely orthogonal cabal of
retrograde fundamentalist Christians ensnared in faith-based
fallacies abetted by progressive Gaia devotees saddled with equally
mystical mumbo-jumbo. Silver positions these constituencies as
allergic reactions to the increasing explanatory power of science
and correctly notes that both viewpoints are spiritually motivated.
He forcefully argues that eco-environmentalism simply swaps Mother
Nature as a quasi-Goddess for the male God of Abraham. The
President's Council on Bioethics - as presently constituted by the
Bush administration - is properly excoriated by word and deed as
little more than a dysfunctional mélange of befuddled science
deniers, who with fox in the henhouse inanity circumscribe the
activities of the US biotech community.
Silver succinctly deconstructs the ideological bias underlying
essential concepts "like organic, natural, species, human being and
life itself" and extends this reasoning to encompass why "nearly
every literate person perceives natural as a synonym for good,
whereas the opposite idea - unnatural, artificial and synthetic -
evokes a reflexive negative reaction." That nature operates by
natural selection "red in tooth and claw" (or green in root and
branch) is dramatically framed in a pitiless examination of the
vicious and unceasing struggles between Amazon rainforest organisms
versus the human preference for pastoral Pollyannaism.
After realistically portraying nature, Silver tracks 10,000+ years
of human biological manipulation exemplified by prehistoric plant
selectors and animal breeders - astute biotechnologists given
available means and their success in producing non-familiar crops
such as maize and rice, along with animals such as sheep that are
naturally implausible. To illustrate the dangers of the illusory
"natural, good, safe" trinity Silver incisively contrasts the
regulatory treatment and public perception of organic and
conventional/biotech farming, along with dubious "vitalistic"
claims fringe herbal/homeopathic medicines make against mainstream
pharmaceuticals.
Many of the most sensitive topics from a Judeo-Christian
perspective are similarly dissected. Silver makes a compelling case
for the lack of clear boundaries within and between species,
between normal and abnormal embryonic development, and between the
life of whole complex organisms and their component parts. In doing
so, he demolishes fraudulent fundamentalist Christian assertions on
the status of embryos and the fanciful concept of ensoulment.
Chimeras (the nearly complete absorption of one embryo by another)
and developmental aberrations that result in human monsters with
two heads are presented as questions that shatter the smug conceits
of faith - not as morbid titillations that mock real suffering.
Silver astutely notes that Asian religions such as Buddhism and
Hinduism present few problems for biotechnology since these belief
systems don't posit a supernatural creator with a master plan. In
these worldviews "scientists playing God" ceases to be a meaningful
objection since each spiritual being is responsible for its own
future. Should American biotech leadership stumble - and Silver
eloquently shows how this would be a socioeconomic debacle with
significant quality of life and environmental consequences - the
soundbyte sermons of televangelists goading pliant flocks, along
with Jeremy Rifkin's postmodern luddite riff-raff, will be
ultimately responsible.
As Silver notes, the most responsible thing humanity can do as a
species, is to use our emergent power wisely and embrace the tools
that modern biotechnology offers to meet challenging problems -
such as global warming and loss of species diversity - while
minimizing collateral impact. In the process he acknowledges that
we will continue to modify nature, just have we have done for
millennia. We should be deliberate and thoughtful, but not fearful,
as we enter into a new era.

26 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, September 8, 2006
By Lee Carlson (Saint Louis, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and
Spirituality at the New Frontiers of Life (Hardcover)
The current battle between "natural" and genetically modified (GM)
crops has in many instances taken on the intensity and silliness of
the battle between the advocates of AC and DC power in the early
years of the twentieth century. The advocates of natural foods it
seems will go to any length to portray the "dangers" of GM crops,
but have no evidence to support their campaign of vituperation. The
biotechnology/scientific community for the most part has shied away
from countering these tactics, hoping maybe that by ignoring them
they will go away. In only a small number of cases have a few
confident individuals stepped up to the plate to defend the virtues
and science behind biotechnology.
The author of this book is one of these individuals, and he has
given the reader a fascinating account of what is possible, and
what is not, in genetic engineering and twenty-first century
biology in general. He thankfully does not hold back in countering
the exaggerations and misrepresentations that emanate both from
religious circles and "New Age secularists." But the book contains
more than just counterarguments, for the author discusses some of
the modern developments in biology that may have not caught the
attention of the average reader. These developments are awesome if
viewed by what was possible in biotechnology only two decades ago.
Breathtaking advances have occurred since then, and with even more
coming in the years ahead, one could argue easily that this is the
best time ever to be alive.
And life is what this book is about, that is, natural life, which
the author argues correctly constitutes genetically modified
organisms as well as organisms that have come about without the
intervention of humans. To claim otherwise is usually the province
of religion or some other form of superstition, is part of a vague
political goal, or is at times as the author puts it "hidden in
layers of self-deception." He therefore does not hesitate to
criticize religious beliefs and the elusive concept of "faith" and
for the most part his commentary is correct and avoids unnecessary
confrontation. Even the concept of the human self as being a unique
and well-defined entity is questioned by the author, quoting some
of the latest research in neuroscience that supports the notion
that the self is an organized conglomeration of neuronal synapses.
The concept of the "soul" is criticized and set aside as being
superfluous and lacking scientific support. Such concepts, along
with many of the common superstitions and beliefs that seem to
transcend culture can be rejected with confident Laplacian
pronouncements.
But the best part of this book is the author's speculations on the
future of genetics. He points out that the developmental
engineering of life forms, such as the creation of dinosaur
genomes, as very plausible. This would be done by utilizing
`evolutionary deconstruction' to `reconstruct' genomes that are
long extinct. He points out that such developments are happening
even now, with the embryos of chickens engineered to have scales
instead of feathers, and have teeth instead of beaks. It is
extremely likely that future genetic engineers will manipulate the
development as well as the metabolism of life forms. The author
expresses the heartfelt wish that he will be around to witness
these developments. This reviewer is in complete agreement and the
fingers are crossed.

32 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and, above all, fun!, June 19,
2006
By Marina Simone "Marina" - See all my reviews
This review is from: Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and
Spirituality at the New Frontiers of Life (Hardcover)
I LOVED this book!!! This wide-ranging book looks at science
through the lens of different cultures in the US, Europe, Asia, and
even Africa. It is extremely well-researched and often conveys
information through story-telling. Even though a lot of scientific
information is presented, it is done so with clarity and even in an
entertaining manner. The author presents both sides of a
controversy, sets out the essential facts, lets you know where he
stands, but then invites the reader to make up his or her own mind.
The book is a very easy read. It tackles a number of controversial
topics and is extremely provocative. It deserves to be widely
read!!!

Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Accessible and entertaining read
Mr. Silver's book was a joy to read. Very engaging and full of
information. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. King

1.0 out of 5 stars reductionalism + hubris = Science (with a
capital 'S' like a deity)
Silver goes about to prove that organic-environmentalist types are
as 'religious' as fundamentalist Christians. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Rebekah Sheldon

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for the "gee whiz science" alone
Many reviewers have focused on Silver's advocacy positions, which
is fine and they certainly are there. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jeffrey Chamberlain

4.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant exposition of the clash of science
and spirituality
In Challenging Nature, Lee M. Silver, Professor of Molecular
Biology and Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public
and International Affairs at Princeton Univ. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Roy E. Perry

5.0 out of 5 stars CHALLENGING NATURE probes both spiritual and
economic impacts of scientific research.
CHALLENGING NATURE: THE CLASH OF SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY AT THE
NEW FRONTIERS OF LIFE could've been featured in our science
section, but is reviewed here for its survey of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Midwest Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Informative, But the Man is a Humanist
His book discusses the politics and science of embryonic stem cell
research and genetic engineering. Dr. Silver is a humanist whose
goal in life is to serve mankind, not God. Read more
Published 14 months ago by David Roemer

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have an OPEN mind
This book is a great journey through sience and philosophy. If you
"hot button" topics currently debated by society today. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Doc Tony

4.0 out of 5 stars Frankenstein Watch
Before reading this book I generally supported stem cell research,
but after reading it I went on Red Alert in a 'Frankenstein Watch',
due to the author's perverse attitude and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by John Landon

5.0 out of 5 stars First Physics, Now Biology
In 1633 Galileo was put on trial by the Catholic Church because he
dared to challenge the church's belief that everything revolved
around the earth. Read more
Published 14 months ago by John Matlock

5.0 out of 5 stars Pompous review
While I had some hope for this after reading Marina review, the
deeper dive into Bob review brought on the realization that it is a
one-sided affair. Read more
Published 16 months ago by B. B. Jenitez

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