ABSTRACT

Why are people often so unpredictable? Why do they do things which can cause great personal harm even when they know this to be the case? Chaos and Intoxication examines the nature of drug and alcohol abuse, seeking to address these and many other enduring questions through a detailed discussion of the chaotic nature of human existence.
Chaos and Intoxication discusses ideas and research in three general areas: neurobiology and genetics, cognition and collective action, and chaos and complexity theory. These are brought together to develop a general theory of chaos and human nature.
This book will be essential reading for students and researchers in sociology and medical anthropology as well as professionals working in the drug and alcohol support services.

chapter 1|20 pages

The embodiment of intoxication

chapter 2|18 pages

Biology and experience

chapter 3|19 pages

The evolution of the mind

chapter 4|17 pages

Consciousness and language

chapter 5|17 pages

Reason, rationality and individual action

chapter 6|10 pages

Adaptation and uncertainty in human nature

chapter 7|18 pages

Principles of complexity and chaos

chapter 8|20 pages

Working with chaos 122

chapter 10|7 pages

Is existence fractal?