ABSTRACT

In chapter four, as in all the previous chapters, there is a strong focus on uncovering important aspects of human biology as they relate to alcohol and drug use. True, the connection has not always been obvious in places, but nevertheless important progress has been made in grounding human action in aspects of biological form. The embodiment of human action is an important step in moving towards a comprehensive theory of human existence. Too often natural scientists conduct their research as though humankind were no different from non-conscious animals, and social scientists too frequently present their work as though we were some disembodied consciousness unrestricted by our body and its constraints. I make no complaint about the way either natural or social scientists pursue their quests for knowledge. Good empirical research practice does not require that the investigator be constantly aware of universal perspectives. However, at the level of theorising it is essential to recall that humankind is an evolved biological, collective species within which there has emerged a higher-order, symbolic process of conceptualisation which we experience as conscious awareness. Everything about us should ultimately be accounted for in terms of all these elements. We are some way towards our goal, but there is still a long way to go.