Handbook of Philosophy of Biology

About this book

The Handbook of Philosophy of Biology is an exciting collection of new essays written especially to give the reader an introduction to one of the most vibrant areas of scholarship today, and at the same time to move the subject forward dramatically. Written in a clear and rigorous style it will give the more experienced scholar much to think about and will also be of great value to the new student of the subject.

The handbook covers the history of the topic, then moves into important analyses of contemporary evolutionary thinking, and continues with discussions of genetics and the moral and epistemological foundations of our understanding of heredity. The book goes on to cover ecology, behavior and morality, and does not neglect religion or feminist issues. Finally, it takes up matters to do with language and metaphor. The authors range from the senior and experienced to new and exciting young scholars.

Contents

1. History Of The Philosophy Of Biology;
2. Natural Selection And The Structure Of Evolutionary Theory;
3. Population Thinking;
4. Testing And Optimality Models;
5. Teleology;
6. Evolvability;
7. Species And Taxonomy;
8. Chance And Contingency;
9. Macroevolution;
10. Molecular Biology And Reduction;
11. Origins Of Life Studies;
12. Evo-Devo;
13. Philosophical Issues Arising From Genomics;
14. Animal Behavior;
15. Neuroscience;
16. Teleological Theories Of Mental Content;
17. Sociobiology, Evolutionary Psych, And Cultural Evolution;
18. Evolution Of Moral Norms;
19. Genes And Society;
20. The Concept Of Race In Medicine;
21. Ecology And The Environment;
22. Agriculture And Agricultural Biotechnology;
23. Biology And Religion;
24. Feminist Philosophy Of Biology;
25. Rhetoric In Biology

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