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 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 "Sarkar is to be congratulated for assembling this talented team of philosophers, who are themselves to be congratulated for writing these interesting essays on so many fascinating areas in philosophy of biology. This book will be a wonderful resource for future work." Elliot Sober, University of Wisconsin-Madison "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 "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 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 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 Comprised of essays by top scholars in the field, this volume offers detailed overviews of philosophical issues raised by biology. 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

List of contents

List of Figures.
 
List of Tables.
 
Notes on Contributors.
 
Acknowledgments.
 
Introduction (Sahotra Sarkar and Anya Plutynski).
 
Part I Molecular Biology and Genetics.
 
1 Gene Concepts (Hans-Jörg Rheinberger and Staffan Müller-Wille).
 
2 Biological Information (Stefan Artmann).
 
3 Heredity and Heritability (Richard C. Lewontin).
 
4 Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond (Sahotra Sarkar).
 
Part II Evolution.
 
5 Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism (James G. Lennox).
 
6 Systematics and Taxonomy (Marc Ereshefsky).
 
7 Population Genetics (Christopher Stephens).
 
8 The Units and Levels of Selection (Samir Okasha).
 
9 Molecular Evolution (Michael R. Dietrich).
 
10 Speciation and Macroevolution (Anya Plutynski).
 
11 Adaptationism (Peter Godfrey-Smith and Jon F. Wilkins).
 
Part III Developmental Biology.
 
12 Phenotypic Plasticity and Reaction Norms (Jonathan M. Kaplan).
 
13 Explaining the Ontogeny of Form: Philosophical Issues (Alan C. Love).
 
14 Development and Evolution (Ron Amundson).
 
Part IV Medicine.
 
15 Self and Nonself (Moira Howes).
 
16 Health and Disease (Dominic Murphy).
 
Part V Ecology.
 
17 Population Ecology (Mark Colyvan).
 
18 Complexity, Diversity, and Stability (James Justus).
 
19 Ecosystems (Kent A. Peacock).
 
20 Biodiversity: Its Meaning and Value (Bryan G. Norton).
 
Part VI Mind and Behavior.
 
21 Ethology, Sociobiology, and Evolutionary Psychology (Paul E. Griffiths).
 
22 Cooperation (J. McKenzie Alexander).
 
23 Language and Evolution (Derek Bickerton).
 
Part VII Experimentation, Theory, and Themes.
 
24 What is Life? (Mark A. Bedau).
 
25 Experimentation (Marcel Weber).
 
26 Laws and Theories (Marc Lange).
 
27 Models (Jay Odenbaugh).
 
28 Function and Teleology (Justin Garson).
 
29 Reductionism in Biology (Alexander Rosenberg).
 
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 Plutynski, Sarkar, S Sarkar, Sahotra Sarkar, Sahotra (University of Texas Sarkar, Sahotra Plutynski Sarkar
• Assisted by: Plutynski (Editor), Plutynski (Editor), Anya Plutynski (Editor), Plutynski Anya (Editor), Sahotr Sarkar (Editor), Sahotra Sarkar (Editor), Sarkar Sahotra (Editor)
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 05.11.2010
• EAN: 9781444337853
• ISBN: 978-1-4443-3785-3
• 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; Biologie, Philosophie, Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophie in den Naturwissenschaften