Synopses & Reviews
Is life a purely physical process? Does the theory of natural selection conflict with theism, and if so, how can we rationally choose between them? What is human nature? Which of our traits is essential to us? Biology is the branch of science most immediately relevant to many distinctively human concerns, so it is natural that it should be the site of great controversy and debate. The philosophy of biology addresses not only those questions which biology cannot yet (or perhaps ever) answer, but also the further questions about why biology may be unable to answer those questions. In this volume, Daniel McShea and Alex Rosenberg - a biologist and a philosopher, respectively - join forces to create a new gateway to the philosophy of biology, making the major issues accessible and relevant to biologists and philosophers alike. Exploring concepts such as supervenience, the controversies about genocentrism and genetic determinism, and the debate about major transitions central to contemporary thinking about macroevolution, the authors lay out the broad terms in which we should assess the impact of biology on human capacities, social institutions, and ethical values.
Synopsis
Is life a purely physical process? What is human nature? Which of our traits is essential to us? In this volume, Daniel McShea and Alex Rosenberg a biologist and a philosopher, respectively join forces to create a new gateway to the philosophy of biology; making the major issues accessible and relevant to biologists and philosophers alike.
Exploring concepts such as supervenience; the controversies about genocentrism and genetic determinism; and the debate about major transitions central to contemporary thinking about macroevolution; the authors lay out the broad terms in which we should assess the impact of biology on human capacities, social institutions and ethical values.