Charles J. Lumsden (born 1949) is a
Canadian biologist
A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual cell, a multicellular organism, or a community of interacting populations. They usually specialize in ...
in the Department of Medicine and Institute of Medical Science,
University of Toronto. He has been an early proponent of
sociobiology, looking to our genetic nature to supplement culture in describing what makes us human. He wrote two influential books in collaboration with
Edward O. Wilson ''Genes, Mind and Culture: The Coevolutionary Process.'' (Harvard University Press, 1981) and ''Promethean Fire: Reflections on the Origin of Mind'' (Harvard University Press, 1983). Part of his interests lies in the mathematical and philosophical bases of physical theory in biology, and the origins of
creativity. He has also co-edited biology textbooks, notably ''Physical Theory in Biology: Foundations and Explorations'' 1997.
References
Lumsden: Selected bibliographyStephen Jay Gould discussed ''Promethean Fire: Reflections on the Origin of Mind'' in ''The New York Review of Books'', June 30, 1983
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lumsden, Charles J.
Canadian biologists
Academic staff of the University of Toronto
Living people
1949 births