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Charles Darwin is irrefutably the architect of modern evolutionary biology. Yet Darwin's "The Origin of Species" is more than just a biological theory. It is a set of principles that portend tremendous philosophical impact beyond the limits of natural science. Darwin's theory begs examination conceptually - to determine how it is structured and how it makes its claims. And because Darwinian assumptions extend to humankind, they must also be thoroughly scrutinized for ethical and epistemological implications.
Michael Ruse, well-known authority on the history and philosophy of Darwinism, offers here the definitive work on the philosophical nature and impact of Darwin's thought.This engaging text is not just a spring board for theoretical debate, but also a treatise that tackles head on many of the controversial anti-Darwin sentiments and suppositions asserted by believers of the Creationist movement. Using clear, non-technical language, Ruse has much to say about the status of evolutionary thought as a genuine theory, the philosophical implications of Darwinism, and the modern naturalistic explanations of religion.
List of Figures Preface 1. Charles Darwin2. On the Origin of Species3. One Long Argument4. Neo-Darwinism5. The Consilience: One6. The Consilience: Two7. Humans8. Knowledge9. Morality10. Religious Belief11. The Origins of Religion12. The Darwinian Revolution BibliographyIndex
Michael Ruse is Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University. The author of many books, including The Philosophy of Biology and Taking Darwin Seriously, he is also the founder and editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy. He has appeared on "Quirks and Quarks" and the Discovery Channel.
This is a very good, and a very enjoyable, book. The style is conversational, lively and well-informed. Ruse has a real gift for conveying the gist of an idea intelligently and effectively and with integrity as well as verve.- Peter Loptson, University of Guelph "If you want to understand Darwinism and what it implies about nature, human nature, knowledge, morality and religion, this book is an unparalleled introduction and resource."- Richard A. Richards, University of Alabama "Michael Ruse is a superstar among scholars interested in Darwin and Darwinism. If you want the big picture from a brilliant, hard-thinking scholar, Ruse is the obvious choice."- Joseph Cain, University College, London
