Oedipus Rex in the Genomic Era

Oedipus Rex in the Genomic Era Human Behaviour, Law and Society

Hardback (31 Oct 2021)

  • $149.42
Add to basket

Includes delivery to the United States

10+ copies available online - Usually dispatched within 7 days

Publisher's Synopsis

This book explores the answers to fundamental questions about the human mind and human behaviour with the help of two ancient texts. The first is Oedipus Rex (Oedipus Tyrannus) by Sophocles, written in the 5th century BCE. The second is human DNA, with its origins around 4 billion years ago, and continuously revised by chance and evolution. With Sophocles as a guide, the authors take a journey into the Genomic era, an age marked by ever-expanding insights into the human genome. Over the course of this journey, the book explores themes of free will, fate, and chance; prediction, misinterpretation, and the burden that comes with knowledge of the future; self-fulfilling and self-defeating prophecies; the forces that contribute to similarities and differences among people; roots and lineage; and the judgement of oneself and others.

Using Oedipus Rex as its lens, this novel work provides an engaging overview of behavioural genetics thatdemonstrates its relevance across the humanities and the social and life sciences. It will appeal in particular to students and scholars of genetics, education, psychology, sociology, and law.

About the Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

From award-winning research which changes the world to textbooks and study guides which educate and inspire, we publish across the humanities, social sciences and business for academics, students, professionals and librarians worldwide.With offices in London and New York, and sales teams across 50 countries, we have a global reach and as part of Macmillan Science and Education, are proud to uphold an unbroken tradition of over 170 years of academic publishing.

Book information

ISBN: 9781349960477
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Pub date:
DEWEY: 155.7
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 234
Weight: 436g
Height: 154mm
Width: 216mm
Spine width: 23mm