
Philosophy of Biology : A Contemporary Introduction
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Description
Is life a purely physical process? What is human nature? Which of our traits is essential to us? In this volume, Daniel McShea and Alex Rosenberg - a biologist and a philosopher, respectively - join forces to create a new gateway to the philosophy of biology; making the major issues accessible and relevant to biologists and philosophers alike.
Exploring concepts such as supervenience; the controversies about genocentrism and genetic determinism; and the debate about major transitions central to contemporary thinking about macroevolution; the authors lay out the broad terms in which we should assess the impact of biology on human capacities, social institutions and ethical values.
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Exploring concepts such as supervenience; the controversies about genocentrism and genetic determinism; and the debate about major transitions central to contemporary thinking about macroevolution; the authors lay out the broad terms in which we should assess the impact of biology on human capacities, social institutions and ethical values.
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Product details
- Paperback | 244 pages
- 157.99 x 233.43 x 13.46mm | 363g
- 28 Jan 2008
- Taylor & Francis Ltd
- ROUTLEDGE
- London, United Kingdom
- English
- black & white illustrations, figures
- 041531593X
- 9780415315937
- 721,390
Table of contents
Introduction 1. Darwin Makes a Science 2. Biological Laws and Theories 3. Further Problems of Darwinism: Adaptation, Drift, Function 4. Reductionism About Biology 5. Complexity, Directionality, and Progress in Evolution 6. Genes, Groups, and Major Transitions 7. Biology, Human Behaviour, Social Science and Moral Philosophy
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Review quote
'A very impressive book. Coverage is complete without being overly encyclopedic and diffuse, and competing arguments are given fair and even-handed treatment.' - Gregory Frost-Arnold, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
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About Alex Rosenberg
Alex Rosenberg is R. Taylor Cole Professor of Philosophy at Duke University. He is the author of Philosophy of Science: a Contemporary Introduction (2nd edition, 2005) and co-editor with Yuri Balashov of Philosophy of Science: Contemporary Readings (2002).
Daniel W. McShea is Associate Professor of Biology at Duke University.
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Daniel W. McShea is Associate Professor of Biology at Duke University.
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