On the Proper Study of Man: Reflections on Method

It is possible to describe and explain man in naturalistic terms, in the same way as we describe and explain stones, plants, and animals: in the language of physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, neurology, et cetera. Put differently, we can apply the same methods used for the study of stones, plants, and animals for the study of man as well. We can consider and treat man as a physical object like a stone that can be measured in terms of weight, height, volume, mass, density, temperature, shape, et cetera, and that is located and moving around in time and space. Like plants, man is an organism with a metabolism; he grows, lives, reproduces, and dies. And like animals, man is a self-propelling body, equipped with sensory organs and in search of food and sex.