Well written, well researched, thoughtful, and ambitious. Beyond Versus is perhaps the best effort yet to overcome the explanatory divide separating the contributions of population genetics from those of developmental biology to the science of nature and nurture.
Evelyn Fox Keller, Professor Emerita of the History and Philosophy of Science, MIT; author of The Mirage of a Space between Nature and Nurture
No scientific field illustrates the illumination philosophy can provide to empirical science as well as the genetics of complex traits in humans, and no work of philosophy has shone as much light on human genetics as Beyond Versus. Tabery's book combines history, philosophical analysis, data, and bioethics; I expect it will transform the long historical discussion of nature and nurture.
Eric Turkheimer, Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
Tabery's tracing of the statistical and mechanical concepts of interaction through key debates over the respective roles of 'nature' and 'nurture' casts important light on the assumptions generating those debates. His further effort to show how seemingly incompatible research informed by those concepts could be integrated is a welcome addition to the growing literature on scientific pluralism.
Helen Longino, C. I. Lewis Professor in Philosophy, Stanford University; author of Studying Human Behavior
Tabery has written an excellent book describing how recent biology shows that the nature-nurture dispute has been misplaced. Rather, the time has come to understand the interdependence of multiple factors in the genesis of traits in all organisms, especially complex behavioral and disease traits in humans. This book will prove to be useful to all those who want to move beyond the futile debates of the last century and to embrace a new understanding of what it means to be human in the postgenomic era.
Sahotra Sarkar, Professor of Philosophy and Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin; author of Genetics and Reductionism and Molecular Models of Life
This is an engaging new entry in the voluminous literature that attempts to get beyond 'nature-nurture' divides...the book's clear focus on these themes is one of its major strengths....Tabery's careful analysis shows clearly why we need to take these kinds of questions seriously.
Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
An excellent book by an obviously multi-talented author.
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
A novel approach....Beyond Versus offers a thorough review of the contemporary but timeless nature/nurture debate....Tabery's discussion allows the main currents in the debate to surface.
Review of Metaphysics
If, like many people, you think the nature-nurture debate is fascinating and relevant to our time, add James Tabery's book to your shelf. If, like me, you have long wondered why the nature-nurture debate still exists in scientific circles, add this book to your shelf.
PsycCRITIQUES
Tabery's book presents a timely attempt to unify an integrative approach to bioethical reflection on the collection and use of genetic information.
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
