{"title":"Andreas De Block","description":"\u003cp\u003eAndreas De Block’s works explore the fascinating intersections of natural history and human culture, inviting readers to engage with scientific ideas through vivid storytelling. His books, such as \u003cem\u003eOf Maybugs and Men\u003c\/em\u003e, combine education with a thoughtful reflection on our relationship with the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal for readers intrigued by accessible science writing, De Block’s collections offer insightful perspectives within the broader realm of education and reference. His accessible yet profound approach makes complex topics both enjoyable and enlightening.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"of-maybugs-and-men-by-andreas-de-block-9780226822440","title":"Of Maybugs and Men","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA much-needed exploration of the history and philosophy of scientific research into male homosexuality.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eQuestions about the naturalness or unnaturalness of homosexuality are as old as the hills, and the answers have often been used to condemn homosexuals, their behaviours, and their relationships. In the past two centuries, a number of sciences have involved themselves in this debate, introducing new vocabularies, theories, arguments, and data, many of which have gradually helped tip the balance toward tolerance and even acceptance. In \u003cem\u003eOf Maybugs and Men\u003c\/em\u003e, philosophers Pieter R. Adriaens and Andreas De Block explore the history and philosophy of the gay sciences, revealing how individual and societal values have coloured how we think about homosexuality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors unpack the entanglement of facts and values in studies of male homosexuality across the natural and human sciences and consider the extent to which science has mitigated or reinforced homonegative mores. The focus of the book is on homosexuality's assumed naturalness. Geneticists rephrased naturalness as innateness, claiming that homosexuality is innate—colloquially, that homosexuals are born gay. Zoologists thought it a natural affair, documenting its existence in myriad animal species, from maybugs to men. Evolutionists presented homosexuality as the product of natural selection and speculated about its adaptive value. Finally, psychiatrists, who initially pathologised homosexuality, eventually appealed to its naturalness or innateness to normalise it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscussing findings from an array of sciences—comparative zoology, psychiatry, anthropology, evolutionary biology, social psychology, developmental biology, and machine learning—this book is essential reading for anyone interested in what science has to say about homosexuality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47426714337516,"sku":"9780226822440","price":61.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780226822440.jpg?v=1774767847"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/andreas-de-block.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}