Companion to the Philosophy of Biology

Informationen zum Autor Sahotra Sarkar is Professor of Integrative Biology, Geography and the Environment, and Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of Genetics and Reductionism: A Primer (1998), Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy (2005), Molecular Models of Life (2005), Doubting Darwin? Creationist Designs on Evolution (2007); co-author of Systematic Conservation Planning (2007); editor of several books, including The Philosophy and History of Molecular Biology (1996), the six-volume Science and the Philosophy in the Twentieth Century: Basic Works of Logical Empiricism (1996), and the two-volume The Philosophy of Science: An Encyclopedia (2006). Anya Plutynski is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah. She specializes in the history and philosophy of science. Klappentext A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology offers concise overviews of philosophical issues raised by all areas of biology. Addressing both traditional and emerging areas of philosophical interest, the volume focuses on the philosophical implications of evolutionary theory as well as key topics such as molecular biology, immunology, ecology, and neuroscience.Comprising essays by top scholars in the field, this volume is an authoritative guide for professional philosophers, historians, sociologists and biologists, as well as an accessible reference work for students seeking to learn about this rapidly-changing field. Zusammenfassung A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology offers concise overviews of philosophical issues raised by all areas of biology. Addressing both traditional and emerging areas of philosophical interest, the volume focuses on the philosophical implications of evolutionary theory as well as key topics such as molecular biology, immunology, and ecology. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of Figures viii List of Tables x Notes on Contributors xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction xviii Sahotra Sarkar and Anya Plutynski Part I Molecular Biology and Genetics 1 1 Gene Concepts 3 Hans-Jörg Rheinberger and Staffan Müller-Wille 2 Biological Information 22 Stefan Artmann 3 Heredity and Heritability 40 Richard C. Lewontin 4 Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond 58 Sahotra Sarkar Part II Evolution 75 5 Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism 77 James G. Lennox 6 Systematics and Taxonomy 99 Marc Ereshefsky 7 Population Genetics 119 Christopher Stephens 8 The Units and Levels of Selection 138 Samir Okasha 9 Molecular Evolution 157 Michael R. Dietrich 10 Speciation and Macroevolution 169 Anya Plutynski 11 Adaptationism 186 Peter Godfrey-Smith and Jon F. Wilkins Part III Developmental Biology 203 12 Phenotypic Plasticity and Reaction Norms 205 Jonathan M. Kaplan 13 Explaining the Ontogeny of Form: Philosophical Issues 223 Alan C. Love 14 Development and Evolution 248 Ron Amundson Part IV Medicine 269 15 Self and Nonself 271 Moira Howes 16 Health and Disease 287 Dominic Murphy Part V Ecology 299 17 Population Ecology 301 Mark Colyvan 18 Complexity, Diversity, and Stability 321 James Justus 19 Ecosystems 351 Kent A. Peacock 20 Biodiversity: Its Meaning and Value 368 Bryan G. Norton Part VI Mind and Behavior 391 21 Ethology, Sociobiology, and Evolutionary Psychology 393 Paul E. Griffiths 22 Cooperation 415 J. McKenzie Alexander 23 Language and Evolution 431 Derek Bickerton <...

List of contents

I. Introduction: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas) and Anya Plutynski (University of Utah).
 
II. Molecular Biology and Genetics.
 
II.1. Gene Concepts: Staffan Muller-Wülle (University of Exeter).
 
II.2. Biological Information: Stefan Artmann (University of Jena).
 
II.3. Heredity and Heritability: Richard Lewontin (Harvard University).
 
II.4. Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas).
 
III. Evolution.
 
III.1. Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism: James G. Lennox (University of Pittsburgh).
 
III.2. Systematics and Taxonomy: Marc Ereshefsky (University of Calgary).
 
III.3. Population Genetics: Christopher Stephens (University of British Columbia).
 
III.4. Units and Levels of Selection: Samir Okasha (University of Bristol).
 
III.5. Molecular Evolution: Michael R. Dietrich (Dartmouth College) and John Beatty (University of British Columbia).
 
III.6. Speciation and Macroevolution: Anya Plutynski (University of Utah).
 
III.7. Adaptationism: Peter Godfrey-Smith (Harvard University) and Jon F. Wilkins (Harvard University).
 
IV. Developmental Biology.
 
IV.1. Phenotypic Plasticity and Reaction Norms: Jonathan Kaplan (University of Tennessee).
 
IV.2. Explaining the Ontogeny of Form: Philosophical Issues: Alan C. Love (University of Minnesota).
 
IV.3. Development and Evolution: Ron Amundson (University of Hawaii).
 
V. Immunology.
 
V.1. Self and Non-Self: Moira Howes (Trent University).
 
V.2. Health and Disease: Dominic Murphy (Caltech).
 
VI. Ecology.
 
VI.1. Population Ecology: Mark Colyvan (University of Sydney).
 
VI.2.Complexity, Diversity, and Stability: James Justus (University of Texas, Austin).
 
VI.3. Ecosystems: Kent A. Peackock (University of Lethbridge).
 
VI.4. Biodiversity: Its Meaning and Value: Bryan Norton (Georgia Institute of Technology).
 
VII. Mind and Behavior.
 
VII.1. Ethology, Sociobiology, and Evolutionary Psychology: Paul Griffiths (University of Pittsburgh).
 
VII.2. Cooperation: J. McKenzie Alexander (London School of Economics).
 
VII.3. Language and Evolution: Derek Bickerton (University of Hawaii).
 
VIII. Experimentation, Theory, and Themes.
 
VIII.1. What is Life?: Mark Bedau (Reed College).
 
VIII.2. Experimentation: Marcel Weber (University of Hanover).
 
VIII.3. Is Biology Like Physics?: Marc Lange (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill).
 
VIII.4. Models: Jay Odenbaugh (Lewis and Clark College).
 
VIII.5. Function and Teleology: Justin Garson (University of Texas, Austin).
 
VIII.6. Reductionism in Biology: Alexander Rosenberg (Duke University).
 
Index

Report

"This book is a companion to the philosophy of biology, and it not only should be of interest to scholars in philosophy of biology, but it also may be utilized by classroom educators teaching courses in philosophy of biology, theoretical biology, and evolutionary theory." ( Science & Education , April 2010)
"Many of the discussions here start with a definition of terms and a historical context of the subject before delving into the deeper philosophical issues, making it a useful reference for students of biology as well as philosophy." (Northeastern Naturalist, April 2008)

"The topics that are addressed are done so well. This book will appeal to the advanced student and knowledgeable amateur and may prove useful catalyst for discussion among research teams or those engaged in cross-disciplinary studies." ( Reference Reviews, February 2009)

"Sarkar and Plutynski have compiled a series of essays about the philosophical implications of traditional and emergent biological studies. Among the areas discussed are genetics, immunology and evolutionary psychology." ( Columbia College Today Alumni Magazine, February 2009)

"A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology will be a very useful guide not only for philosophers but also for historians, sociologists and biologists. Its greatest asset is that it expands beyond the scope of recently published textbooks in philosophy of biology by including a detailed treatment of philosophical aspects of medicine, ecology, mind and behavior and that it places the themes in their historic context. The diversity of areas covered will appeal to students of general interest as well as specialists. Especially helpful is that most chapters end with an extended Reference and often an additional Further reading section that will allow readers to research the individual topics in greater depth." (Metapsychology Reviews Online)

"The book is similar to, though different enough to distinguish itself from, its closest kin, The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Biology, edited by Michael Ruse (2008), and The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Biology, edited by David Hull and Michael Ruse. They do not offer essays on language, biodiversity, or models, which are included in the present volume. Recommended." (Choice, November 2008)

Product details

• Authors: Anya Plutynksi, Anya Plutynski, Sarkar, S Sarkar, Sahotr Sarkar, Sahotra Sarkar, Sahotra (University of Texas Sarkar, Sahotra Plutynski Sarkar
• Assisted by: Anya Plutynksi (Editor), Anya Plutynski (Editor), Plutynski Anya (Editor), Sahorta Sarkar (Editor), Sahotra Sarkar (Editor), Sarkar Sahotra (Editor)
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.02.2008
• EAN: 9781405125727
• ISBN: 978-1-4051-2572-7
• No. of pages: 616
• Series: Blackwell Companions to Philosophy; Blackwell Companions to Philosophy; Blackwell Companions to Philos
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > General, dictionaries; Philosophie, Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophie in den Naturwissenschaften, Spezialthemen Philosophie, Philosophy Special Topics