Contemporary debates in philosophy of biology
By: edited by Francisco J. Ayala and Robert Arp
Series: Contemporary debates in philosophy -- 12
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Pub.
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Chichester, U.K; Malden, Mass.
Language: eng
Number of pages: 438
ISBN-13: 9781405159982; 9781405159999
Description: "Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology brings together original essays on some of the most hotly debated questions in this lively and fast-moving field. Each of the ten sections introduces a specific issue within philosophy of biology and offers suggestions for further reading. Pairs of newly commissioned essays by leading scholars discuss the central questions in an engaging head-to-head debate. Together, the essays provide an accessible introduction to philosophy of biology, and a springboard to further discussion. Showcasing original arguments for well-defined positions, as well as clear and concise statements of sophisticated philosophical views, this volume is an excellent resource for professional philosophers, biologists, and students alike"--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: It is possible to reduce biological explanations to explanations in chemistry and/or physics / Evelyn Fox Keller; title: It is not possible to reduce biological explanations to explanations in chemistry and/or physics / John Dupré; title: Traits have evolved to function the way they do because of a past advantage / Mark Perlman; title: Traits have not evolved to function the way they do because of a past advantage / Robert Cummins and Martin Roth; title: Species are real biological entities / Michael F. Claridge; title: Species are not uniquely real biological entities / Brent D. Mishler; title: Selection does operate primarily on genes : in defense of the gene as the unit of selection / Carmen Sapienza; title: Selection does not operate primarily on genes / Richard M. Burian; title: Microevolution and macroevolution are governed by the same processes / Michael R. Dietrich; title: Microevolution and macroevolution are not governed by the same processes / Douglas H. Erwin; title: Evolutionary developmental biology offers a significant challenge to the neo-Darwinian paradigm / Manfred D. Laubichler; title: Evolutionary developmental biology does not offer a significant challenge to the neo-Darwinian paradigm / Alessandro Minelli; title: The basic components of the human mind were solidified during the Pleistocene epoch / Valerie G. Starratt and Todd K. Shackelford; title: The basic components of the human mind were not solidified during the Pleistocene epoch / Stephen M. Downes; title: Memetics does provide a useful way of understanding cultural evolution / Susan Blackmore; title: Memetics does not provide a useful way of understanding cultural evolution : a developmental perspective / William C. Wimsatt; title: The biological sciences can act as a ground for ethics / Michael Ruse; title: What the biological sciences can and cannot contribute to ethics / Francisco J. Ayala; title: There is a place for intelligent design in the philosophy of biology : intelligent design in (philosophy of) biology : some legitimate roles / Del Ratzsch; title: There is no place for intelligent design in the philosophy of biology : intelligent design is not science / Francisco J. Ayala.