The units of evolution : essays on the nature of species

Bibliographic Information

The units of evolution : essays on the nature of species

edited by Marc Ereshefsky

MIT Press, c1992

  • : pbk

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Note

"A Bradford book."

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents
Volume

ISBN 9780262050449

Description

The Units of Evolution is the first anthology devoted solely to the nature of species, one of the most hotly debated issues in biology and the philosophy of biology. The anthology is evenly balanced between biological and philosophical issues, making it equally useful for workers in both fields.In his general introduction, Marc Ereshefsky sketches the framework for the debate, explaining how biologists disagree over the definition of the term species, and philosophers struggle to evaluate the scientific utility of a categorization device that might lack a single defining characteristic.Essays in the first section offer various definitions of the species category, starting with Ernst Mayr's seminal work on species and including essays by Robert Sokal and Theodore Crovello, Paul Ehrlich and Peter Raven, Leigh Van Valen, Edward Wiley, Joel Cracraft, Brent Mishler and Michael Donoghue, Hugh Paterson, and Alan Templeton.The essays in the second section focus on such philosophical issues as whether species taxa are individuals or natural kinds, whether a monistic or pluralistic approach to systematics should be adopted, and the distinction between species and higher taxa. Contributors Include Michael Ghiselin, David Hull, John Beatty, Michael Ruse, Elliott Sober, Philip Kircher, and Marc Ereshefsky

Table of Contents

  • Part 1 Biological concepts: species concepts and their application, Ernst Mayr
  • the biological species concept - a critical evaluation, Robert Sokal and Theordore Crovello
  • differentiation of populations, Paul Ehrlich and Peter Raven
  • ecological species, multispecies and oaks, Leigh Van Valen
  • the evolutionary species concept reconsidered, Edward Wiley
  • species concepts and speciation analysis, Joel Cracraft
  • species concepts - a case for pluralism, Brent Mishler and Michael Donoghue
  • the recognition concept of species, Hugh Paterson
  • the meaning of species and speciation - a genetic perspective, Alan Templeton. Part 2 Philosophical issues: the effect of essentialism on taxonomy - two thousand years of statis, David Hull
  • speaking of species - Darwin's strategy, John Beatty
  • evolution, population thinking and essentialism, Elliott Sober
  • a radical solution to the species problem, Michael Ghiselin
  • a matter of individuality, David Hull
  • species, Philip Kitcher
  • biological species - natural kinds, individuals, or what?, Michael Ruse
  • species concepts, individuality, and objectivity, Michael Giselin.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780262550208

Description

The Units of Evolution is the first anthology devoted solely to the nature of species, one of the most hotly debated issues in biology and the philosophy of biology. The anthology is evenly balanced between biological and philosophical issues, making it equally useful for workers in both fields.In his general introduction, Marc Ereshefsky sketches the framework for the debate, explaining how biologists disagree over the definition of the term species, and philosophers struggle to evaluate the scientific utility of a categorization device that might lack a single defining characteristic.Essays in the first section offer various definitions of the species category, starting with Ernst Mayr's seminal work on species and including essays by Robert Sokal and Theodore Crovello, Paul Ehrlich and Peter Raven, Leigh Van Valen, Edward Wiley, Joel Cracraft, Brent Mishler and Michael Donoghue, Hugh Paterson, and Alan Templeton.The essays in the second section focus on such philosophical issues as whether species taxa are individuals or natural kinds, whether a monistic or pluralistic approach to systematics should be adopted, and the distinction between species and higher taxa. Contributors IncludeMichael Ghiselin, David Hull, John Beatty, Michael Ruse, Elliott Sober, Philip Kircher, and Marc Ereshefsky

Table of Contents

  • Part 1 Biological concepts: species concepts and their application, Ernst Mayr
  • the biological species concept - a critical evaluation, Robert Sokal and Theordore Crovello
  • differentiation of populations, Paul Ehrlich and Peter Raven
  • ecological species, multispecies and oaks, Leigh Van Valen
  • the evolutionary species concept reconsidered, Edward Wiley
  • species concepts and speciation analysis, Joel Cracraft
  • species concepts - a case for pluralism, Brent Mishler and Michael Donoghue
  • the recognition concept of species, Hugh Paterson
  • the meaning of species and speciation - a genetic perspective, Alan Templeton. Part 2 Philosophical issues: the effect of essentialism on taxonomy - two thousand years of statis, David Hull
  • speaking of species - Darwin's strategy, John Beatty
  • evolution, population thinking and essentialism, Elliott Sober
  • a radical solution to the species problem, Michael Ghiselin
  • a matter of individuality, David Hull
  • species, Philip Kitcher
  • biological species - natural kinds, individuals, or what?, Michael Ruse
  • species concepts, individuality, and objectivity, Michael Giselin.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details
  • NCID
    BA17138673
  • ISBN
    • 0262550202
    • 0262050447
  • LCCN
    91004097
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge, Mass.
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvii, 405 p.
  • Size
    23 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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