Norms of Nature
Subtitle: Naturalism and the Nature of Functions
Publisher: The MIT Press; MIT Press
Published: April 2, 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 238
ISBN-13: 9780262041874
Subjects: Life sciences: general issues; Philosophy of science; Science; Nature/Ecology; History; Life Sciences - Evolution; Philosophy & Social Aspects; Science / History; Natural Selection; Naturalism
First sentence: Much in the biological world appears to us purposive.
Description: "In Norms of Nature, Paul Sheldon Davies argues against the prevailing view that natural norms are constituted out of some form of historical success - usually success in natural selection. He defends the view that functions are nothing more than effects that contribute to the exercise of some more general systemic capacity."--BOOK JACKET.