How Biology Shapes Philosophy - New Foundations for Naturalism

A collection of original essays by major thinkers, addressing how the biological sciences inform and inspire philosophical research.

List of contents

1. Biophilosophy David Livingstone Smith; 2. Darwin and the overdue demise of essentialism Daniel C. Dennett; 3. Darwinism as philosophy: can the universal acid be contained? Alexander Rosenberg; 4. Animal evolution and the origins of experience Peter Godfrey-Smith; 5. Neurophilosophy Patricia Churchland; 6. Teleosemantics David Papineau; 7. The methodological argument for informational teleosemantics Karen Neander; 8. Nature's purposes and mine Ronald De Sousa; 9. Biology and the theory of rationality Samir Okasha; 10. Evolution and ethical life Philip Kitcher; 11. Human nature Edouard Machery; 12. A postgenomic perspective on sex and gender John Dupré; 13. Biophilosophy of race Luc Faucher; 14. How philosophers 'learn' from biology: reductionist and anti-reductionist 'lessons' Richard N. Boyd.

About the author

David Livingstone Smith is Professor of Philosophy at the University of New England, Maine. His most recent book is Less than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others (2011).

Summary

How Biology Shapes Philosophy is a unique collection of essays by leading thinkers showing how biology illuminates philosophy and helps us acquire a deeper understanding of the human condition. Both rigorous and highly accessible, it will be of interest to philosophers, biologists and social scientists, as well as non-academics.

Product details

• Authors: David Livingstone Smith, David Livingstone (University of New Englan Smith
• Assisted by: David Smith (Editor), David Livingstone Smith (Editor), Smith David Livingstone (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.09.2016
• EAN: 9781107055834
• ISBN: 978-1-107-05583-4
• No. of pages: 364
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Philosophy, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science