Over the last forty years the philosophy of biology has emerged as an important sub-discipline of the philosophy of science. Covering some of science's most divisive topics, such as philosophical issues in genetics, it also encompasses areas where modern biology has increasingly impinged on traditional philosophical questions, such as free will, essentialism, and nature vs nurture.
In this Very Short Introduction Samir Okasha outlines the core issues with which contemporary philosophy of biology is engaged. Offering a whistle-stop tour of the history of biology, he explores key ideas and paradigm shifts throughout the centuries, including areas such as the theory of evolution by natural selection; the concepts of function and design; biological individuality; and the debate over adaptationism. Throughout Okasha makes clear the relevance of biology for understanding human beings, human society, and our place in the natural world, and the importance of engaging with these issues.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Covering some of science's most divisive topics, such as philosophical issues in genetics and evolution, the philosophy of biology also encompasses more traditional philosophical questions, such as free will, essentialism, and nature vs nurture. Here, Samir Okasha outlines the core issues with which contemporary philosophy of biology is engaged.
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1: Why philosophy of biology?
2: Evolution and natural selection
3: Teleology, function, and purpose
4: Species and classification
5: Biological individuality
6: Genes
7: Biology, culture, and society
Further reading
Index
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Okasha writes beautifully and clearly, presenting and discussing the major contemporary ideas about evolution,adaptation, the species concept, genes, and evolutionary psychology in humans ... I venture to suggest that it should be mandatory reading for anyone contemplating -or having- a degree in biology.
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Offers an accessible introduction to the core issues in the expanding field of philosophy of biology, such as the theory of evolution by natural selection; the concepts of function and design; biological individuality; and the debate over adaptationism
Uses concrete biological examples to illustrate philosophical ideas
Concludes with important reflections on the relevance of biology for understanding human beings, human society, and our place in the natural world
Ideal for biology students interested in the philosophical foundations of their field
Part of the Very Short Introduction series - over nine million copies sold worldwide
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Samir Okasha is Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol, where he has taught since 2003. He was awarded a European Research Council Advanced Investigator Award in 2012 for a research project entitled 'Darwinism and the Theory of Rational Choice', and he has written over 100 articles in leading journals on diverse topics across philosophy of science and evolutionary biology. He is also the author of several books, including Philosophy of
Science: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2002), and Evolution and the Levels of Selection (OUP, 2006), for which he received the Lakatos Award.
Les mer
Offers an accessible introduction to the core issues in the expanding field of philosophy of biology, such as the theory of evolution by natural selection; the concepts of function and design; biological individuality; and the debate over adaptationism
Uses concrete biological examples to illustrate philosophical ideas
Concludes with important reflections on the relevance of biology for understanding human beings, human society, and our place in the natural world
Ideal for biology students interested in the philosophical foundations of their field
Part of the Very Short Introduction series - over nine million copies sold worldwide
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780198806998
Publisert
2019
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
122 gr
Høyde
175 mm
Bredde
112 mm
Dybde
9 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
160
Forfatter