Does natural selection act primarily on individual organisms, on groups, on genes, or on whole species? Samir Okasha provides a comprehensive analysis of the debate in evolutionary biology over the levels of selection, focusing on conceptual, philosophical and foundational questions. A systematic framework is developed for thinking about natural selection acting at multiple levels of the biological hierarchy; the framework is then used to help resolve outstanding issues. Considerable attention is paid to the concept of causality as it relates to the levels of selection, in particular the idea that natural selection at one hierarchical level can have effects that 'filter' up or down to other levels. Unlike previous work in this area by philosophers of science, full account is taken of the recent biological literature on 'major evolutionary transitions' and the recent resurgence of interest in multi-level selection theory among biologists. Other biological topics discussed include Price's equation, kin and group selection, the gene's eye view, evolutionary game theory, outlaws and selfish genetic elements, species and clade selection, and the evolution of individuality. Philosophical topics discussed include reductionism and holism, causation and correlation, the nature of hierarchical organization, and realism and pluralism.
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Does natural selection act primarily on individual organisms, on groups, on genes, or on whole species? The question of levels of selection - on which biologists and philosophers have long disagreed - is central to evolutionary theory and to the philosophy of biology. Samir Okasha's comprehensive analysis gives a clear account of the philosophical issues at stake in the current debate.
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Introduction ; 1. Natural Selection in the Abstract ; 2. Selection at Multiple Levels: Concepts and Methods ; 3. Causality and Multi-level Selection ; 4. Philosophical Issues in the Levels of Selection Debate ; 5. The Gene's Eye View and its Discontents ; 6. The Group Selection Controversy ; 7. Species Selection, Clade Selection and Macroevolution ; 8. Levels of Selection and the Major Evolutionary Transitions
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A clearly written, unique and useful book
This will be the key reference-point for future work on this crucial topic Brings much-needed clarity and focus to the debate Integrates the biological and philosophical discussions Offers in-depth analysis of multi-level selection theory Fully informed by the latest work in evolutionary biology
Les mer
This will be the key reference-point for future work on this crucial topic Brings much-needed clarity and focus to the debate Integrates the biological and philosophical discussions Offers in-depth analysis of multi-level selection theory Fully informed by the latest work in evolutionary biology
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780199267972
Publisert
2006
Utgiver
Vendor
Clarendon Press
Vekt
476 gr
Høyde
222 mm
Bredde
146 mm
Dybde
25 mm
Aldersnivå
G, P, 01, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
276

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