Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology (eBook, PDF)

Redaktion: Ayala, Francisco J.; Arp, Robert

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

This collection of specially commissioned essays puts top scholars head to head to debate the central issues in the lively and fast growing field of philosophy of biology * Brings together original essays on ten of the most hotly debated questions in philosophy of biology * Lively head-to-head debate format sharply defines the issues and paves the way for further discussion * Includes coverage of the new and vital area of evolutionary developmental biology, as well as the concept of a unified species, the role of genes in selection, the differences between micro- and macro-evolution, and much more * Each section features an introduction to the topic as well as suggestions for further reading * Offers an accessible overview of this fast-growing and dynamic field, whilst also capturing the imagination of professional philosophers and biologists

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Seitenzahl: 440
• Erscheinungstermin: 3. November 2009
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781444314939
• Artikelnr.: 38407702

Autorenporträt

Francisco J. Ayala is Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, USA. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. In 2001, he received the National Medal of Science. Ayala has published more than 950 articles and is the author or editor of 31 books. He has been named the Renaissance Man of Evolutionary Biology by The New York Times. Robert Arp is an analyst at The Analysis Group, LLC who has interests in philosophy of biology and ontology in the informatics sense. He is the author of Scenario Visualization: An Evolutionary Account of Creative Problem Solving (2008), and co-editor of Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).

Inhaltsangabe

Notes on Contributors ix
General Introduction 1
References and Further Reading 7
Part I Is It Possible To Reduce Biological Explanations To Explanations In
Chemistry and/or Physics? 13
Introduction 13
References and Further Reading 15
1 It is Possible to Reduce Biological Explanations to Explanations in
Chemistry and/or Physics 19
Evelyn Fox Keller
2 It is Not Possible to Reduce Biological Explanations to Explanations in
Chemistry and/or Physics 32
John Dupré
Part II Have Traits Evolved To Function the Way They Do Because of a Past
Advantage? 49
Introduction 49
References and Further Reading 51
3 Traits Have Evolved to Function the Way They Do Because of a Past
Advantage 53
Mark Perlman
4 Traits Have Not Evolved to Function the Way They Do Because of a Past
Advantage 72
Robert Cummins and Martin Roth
Part III Are Species Real? 87
Introduction 87
References and Further Reading 88
5 Species Are Real Biological Entities 91
Michael F. Claridge
6 Species Are Not Uniquely Real Biological Entities 110
Brent D. Mishler
Part IV Does Selection Operate Primarily On Genes? 123
Introduction 123
References and Further Reading 125
7 Selection Does Operate Primarily on Genes: In Defense of the Gene as the
Unit of Selection 127
Carmen Sapienza
8 Selection Does Not Operate Primarily on Genes 141
Richard M. Burian
Part V Are Microevolution and Macroevolution Governed By the Same
Processes? 165
Introduction 165
References and Further Reading 166
9 Microevolution and Macroevolution Are Governed by the Same Processes 169
Michael R. Dietrich
10 Microevolution and Macroevolution Are Not Governed by the Same Processes
180
Douglas H. Erwin
Part VI Does Evolutionary Developmental Biology Offer a Significant
Challenge To the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm? 195
Introduction 195
References and Further Reading 197
11 Evolutionary Developmental Biology Offers a Significant Challenge to the
Neo-Darwinian Paradigm 199
Manfred D. Laubichler
12 Evolutionary Developmental Biology Does Not Offer a Significant
Challenge to the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm 213
Alessandro Minelli
Part VII Were the Basic Components of the Human Mind Solidified During the
Pleistocene Epoch? 227
Introduction 227
References and Further Reading 228
13 The Basic Components of the Human Mind Were Solidified During the
Pleistocene Epoch 231
Valerie G. Starratt and Todd K. Shackelford
14 The Basic Components of the Human Mind Were Not Solidified During the
Pleistocene Epoch 243
Stephen M. Downes
Part VIII Does Memetics Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural
Evolution? 253
Introduction 253
References and Further Reading 254
15 Memetics Does Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural Evolution
255
Susan Blackmore
16 Memetics Does Not Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural
Evolution: A Developmental Perspective 273
William C. Wimsatt
Part IX Can the Biological Sciences Act As a Ground For Ethics? 293
Introduction 293
References and Further Reading 295
17 The Biological Sciences Can Act as a Ground for Ethics 297
Michael Ruse
18 What the Biological Sciences Can and Cannot Contribute to Ethics 316
Francisco J. Ayala
Part X Is There a Place For Intelligent Design In the Philosophy of
Biology? 337
Introduction 337
References and Further Reading 340
19 There is a Place for Intelligent Design in the Philosophy of Biology:
Intelligent Design in (Philosophy of) Biology: Some Legitimate Roles 343
Del Ratzsch
20 There is No Place for Intelligent Design in the Philosophy of Biology:
Intelligent Design is Not Science 364
Francisco J. Ayala
Index 391

Rezensionen

"All chapters (including the very interestingcontributions on the species problem by Claridge and Mishler, aswell as the stimulating papers on evolutionary ethics by Ruse andAyala) serve as an excellent introduction to the most hotly debatedtopics in the philosophy of biology today." (Metascience, 2011) "A brief review like this can scarcely do justice to the richnessof the ideas discussed in this text or the considerable care thatwent into its organization. This is, in short, a very finecontribution to the pedagogical literature on philosophy ofbiology. The editors are to be congratulated for the thoughtfulnessthat went into producing this text. May it gain the wide acceptanceit deserves." (Science & Education, 2010)

"Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above".(Choice, 1 November 2010)

"Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology isan engaging anthology with many interesting contributions. Thestrength of the book is the format: two eminent representatives ofthe biophilosophical community have their say on a pivotalbiophilosophical issue." (Metapsychology, May2010)

"A very fine contribution to the pedagogical literature onphilosophy of biology. The editors are to be congratulated for thethoughtfulness that went into producing this text. May it gain thewide acceptance it deserves." (Science & Education, March2010)

"A greatly needed and welcome contribution by excellentscholars, this book invites newcomers and experts alike to thinkcritically about core issues in the philosophy ofbiology."
-Roberta L. Millstein, University of California, Davis