Original sin : the genetics of wrongdoing, the problem of blame and the future of forgiveness
Harden, Kathryn Paige2026
Books
'Original Sin' opens with Kathryn Paige Harden taking LSD with her boyfriend in the West Texas desert, precipitating an experience in which he is unable to escape from the sense that he alone is responsible for an apocalyptic event, despite the fact that the event was impossible to avoid. Using this idea - of being born into sin, the eternal human paradox of free will versus destiny, sharpened to a razor edge by contemporary genetics - Harden explores some of the most important questions in philosophy: How are we to take responsibility for the individuals we become in light of what we know about behavioural genetics? We are not responsible for our genomes, but where does that leave us in respect of justice and punishment? If we possess a predisposition toward violence, does that make such behaviour any less egregious?
Main title:
Original sin : the genetics of wrongdoing, the problem of blame and the future of forgiveness / Kathryn Paige Harden.
Author:
Harden, Kathryn Paige, author
Imprint:
London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2026.
Collation:
320 pages ; 23 cm
ISBN:
9781399604338 (hbk. :)
Dewey class:
123.5
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
9088987