Understanding Natural Selection

Natural selection, as introduced by Charles Darwin in the Origin of Species (1859), has always been a topic of great conceptual and empirical interest. This book puts Darwin's theory of evolution in historical context showing that, in important respects, his central mechanism of natural selection gives the clue to understanding the nature of organisms. Natural selection has important implications, not just for the understanding of life's history - single-celled organism to man - but also for our understanding of contemporary social norms, as well as the nature of religious belief. The book is written in clear, non-technical language, appealing not just to philosophers, historians, and biologists, but also to general readers who find thinking about important issues both challenging and exciting.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. The origin of species; 2. Organism and mechanism: rival root metaphors; 3. 'The non-Darwinian revolution?'; 4. The synthesis; 5. Is natural selection a vera causa?; 6.The positive case; 7.Time for a change?; 8. Natural selection and its discontents; Envoi; Index.

About the author

Michael Ruse is Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph, Ontario. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Gifford Lecturer, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and the recipient of four honorary degrees. He is the author/editor of over sixty books, including The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Darwin and Evolutionary Thought (Cambridge University Press, 2013); The Gaia Hypothesis: Life on a Pagan Planet (University of Chicago Press, 2013); Darwinism as Religion: What Literature Tells Us about Evolution (Oxford University Press, 2016), and The Cambridge History of Atheism (Cambridge University Press, 2021).

Summary

Natural selection is seen to be profoundly important for understanding culture, morality and religion. This short book explains Charles Darwin's mechanism of natural selection and puts it in historical context. Written in clear language, it is accessible to the general reader as well as to philosophers, historians and biologists.

Product details

• Authors: Michael Ruse, Michael (University of Guelph Ruse, Ruse Michael
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 28.02.2023
• EAN: 9781316514788
• ISBN: 978-1-316-51478-8
• No. of pages: 225
• Series: Understanding Life
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Evolution, popular science, SCIENCE / History, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, RELIGION / Religion & Science, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, History of Science, Biology, life sciences, Impact of science & technology on society, Impact of science and technology on society, Religion and science, Religion & science, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Technology Studies