Wide-ranging exploration which explores the many links between the physical, biological and social sciences.
Foreword Joseph Needham; 1. Natural and other hierarchies; 2. Major integrative levels; 3. Some logarithmic forms of display; 4. Physical range of integrated natural entities; 5. Biological range of integrated natural entities (first part); 6. Biological range of integrated natural entities (second part); 7. Social range of integrated natural entities; 8. Human societies (first part); 9. Human societies (second part); 10. Acceleration in evolution; 11. Further allied accelerations; 12. Aspects of number; 13. Aspects of mass; 14. Positive skewness; 15. Quantitative conclusions; 16. General conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography.
'Improving Nature?' provides a much needed introduction that many teachers of general biology will find useful...[It] will also interest religious critics of genetic engineering... The Quarterly Review of Biology "Biologists interested in levels or organization and in patterns in the evolution of lifeshould carefully consider the ideas presented in this volume." Walter J. Bock, BioScience "...this brief book serves its purpose if it provokes the reader to develope a more critical synoptic view of the whole shebang. I recommend it." Arthur Falk, The Quarterly Review of Biology