Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology
Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology

Author: Francisco J. Ayala

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2009-11-19

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13: 9781444314939

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This collection of specially commissioned essays puts top scholarshead to head to debate the central issues in the lively and fastgrowing field of philosophy of biology Brings together original essays on ten of the most hotlydebated questions in philosophy of biology Lively head-to-head debate format sharply defines the issuesand paves the way for further discussion Includes coverage of the new and vital area of evolutionarydevelopmental biology, as well as the concept of a unified species,the role of genes in selection, the differences between micro- andmacro-evolution, and much more Each section features an introduction to the topic as well assuggestions for further reading Offers an accessible overview of this fast-growing and dynamicfield, whilst also capturing the imagination of professionalphilosophers and biologists

Philosophy of Biology
Philosophy of Biology

Author: Peter Godfrey-Smith

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2016-09-06

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 0691174679

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An essential introduction to the philosophy of biology This is a concise, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the philosophy of biology written by a leading authority on the subject. Geared to philosophers, biologists, and students of both, the book provides sophisticated and innovative coverage of the central topics and many of the latest developments in the field. Emphasizing connections between biological theories and other areas of philosophy, and carefully explaining both philosophical and biological terms, Peter Godfrey-Smith discusses the relation between philosophy and science; examines the role of laws, mechanistic explanation, and idealized models in biological theories; describes evolution by natural selection; and assesses attempts to extend Darwin's mechanism to explain changes in ideas, culture, and other phenomena. Further topics include functions and teleology, individuality and organisms, species, the tree of life, and human nature. The book closes with detailed, cutting-edge treatments of the evolution of cooperation, of information in biology, and of the role of communication in living systems at all scales. Authoritative and up-to-date, this is an essential guide for anyone interested in the important philosophical issues raised by the biological sciences.

Philosophy of Biology Today
Philosophy of Biology Today

Author: Lucyle T Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Program in the History and Philosophy of Science Michael Ruse

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1988-01-01

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 9780887069109

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"As molecular biologists peer ever more deeply into life's mysteries, there are those who fear that such 'reductionism' conceals more than it reveals, and there are those who complain that the new techniques threaten the physical safety of us all. As students of evolution apply their understanding to our own species, some people think that this is merely an excuse for racist and sexist propaganda, and others worry that the whole exercise blatantly violates the religious beliefs many hold dear. These controversies are the joint concerns of biologists and philosophers--of those whose task it is to study the theoretical and moral foundations of knowledge"--From publisher description.

Philosophy of Science for Biologists
Philosophy of Science for Biologists

Author: Kostas Kampourakis

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-09-24

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 1108491839

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A short and accessible introduction to philosophy of science for students and researchers across the life sciences.

The Metaphysics of Evolution
The Metaphysics of Evolution

Author: David L. Hull

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1989-01-01

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 9780791402115

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This critical collection of essays represents the best of the best when it comes to philosophy of biology. Many chapters treat evolution as a biological phenomenon, but the author is more generally concerned with science itself. Present-day science, particularly current views on systematics and biological evolution are investigated. The aspects of these sciences that are relevant to the general analysis of selection processes are presented, and they also serve to exemplify the general characteristics exhibited by science since its inception.

History And Philosophy Of Biology
History And Philosophy Of Biology

Author: Robert H Kretsinger

Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company

Published: 2015-04-29

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 9814635065

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History and Philosophy of Biology summarizes the major philosophical ideas that have attended the development of science in general and of biology in particular. The book then explores how the techniques and the concepts of the physical sciences have impacted biology. A reductionist approach to biology — anatomy, physiology, genetics — complements the study of evolution by natural selection and an ecological perspective. The final section of the book explores several examples of the influence of science on society, and of society on science.Each of 46 chapters of History and Philosophy of Biology has been or could be the topic of a major tome. The book is unique in that it explores the web of interactions among issues of philosophy, techniques and concepts of the physical sciences, fields of biology, and the diverse relationships between society and science.The book should appeal to readers of Scientific American or the New York Review of Books even if they are not trained biologists. It is a good text, or additional reading, for an advanced undergraduate course treating history and/or philosophy of biology or of science in general.

A Practical Philosophy for the Life Sciences
A Practical Philosophy for the Life Sciences

Author: Wim J. van der Steen

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1993-01-01

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 9780791416150

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This book integrates philosophy of biology and philosophy of medicine with the purpose of making philosophy practical for students and scientists. It contains many exercises and examples from live science. Much attention is given to the translation of scientific reasoning into the language of philosophy. The author shows that philosophical models can be used to evaluate science, if the limitations of the models are recognized so they can be applied in the proper context. On the other hand, some philosophical views of science need to be corrected by science. The book puts philosophy and science in a broader perspective. It integrates practical philosophy and ethics in applications to live science and uncovers limitations of current ethical theory.

Sex and Death
Sex and Death

Author: Kim Sterelny

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 1999-06-15

Total Pages: 462

ISBN-13: 9780226773049

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In this introduction to philosophy of biology, Kim Sterelny and Paul E. Griffiths present both the science and the philosophical context necessary for a critical understanding of the debates shaping biology at the end of the 20th century.

Toward a New Philosophy of Biology
Toward a New Philosophy of Biology

Author: Ernst Mayr

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 1988

Total Pages: 582

ISBN-13: 9780674896666

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A collection of twenty-eight essays, five previously unpublished, grouped into nine categories: Philosophy, Natural Selection, Adaptation, Darwin, Diversity, Species, Speciation, Macroevolution, and Historical Perspective. The book, Ernst Mayr notes in the Foreword, is an attempt "to strengthen the bridge between biology and philosophy, and point to the new direction in which a new philosophy of biology will move."