Contemporary debates in philosophy of biology

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Bibliographic Information

Contemporary debates in philosophy of biology

edited by Francisco J. Ayala and Robert Arp

（Contemporary debates in philosophy, 12）

Wiley-Blackwell, 2010

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

Available at  / 5 libraries

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This collection of specially commissioned essays puts top scholars head to head to debate the central issues in the lively and fast growing field of philosophy of biology Brings together original essays on ten of the most hotly debated questions in philosophy of biology Lively head-to-head debate format sharply defines the issues and paves the way for further discussion Includes coverage of the new and vital area of evolutionary developmental biology, as well as the concept of a unified species, the role of genes in selection, the differences between micro- and macro-evolution, and much more Each section features an introduction to the topic as well as suggestions for further reading Offers an accessible overview of this fast-growing and dynamic field, whilst also capturing the imagination of professional philosophers and biologists

Table of Contents

Notes on Contributors ix General Introduction 1 References and Further Reading 7 Part I Is It Possible To Reduce Biological Explanations To Explanations In Chemistry and/or Physics? 13 Introduction 13 References and Further Reading 15 1 It is Possible to Reduce Biological Explanations to Explanations in Chemistry and/or Physics 19 Evelyn Fox Keller 2 It is Not Possible to Reduce Biological Explanations to Explanations in Chemistry and/or Physics 32 John Dupre Part II Have Traits Evolved To Function the Way They Do Because of a Past Advantage? 49 Introduction 49 References and Further Reading 51 3 Traits Have Evolved to Function the Way They Do Because of a Past Advantage 53 Mark Perlman 4 Traits Have Not Evolved to Function the Way They Do Because of a Past Advantage 72 Robert Cummins and Martin Roth Part III Are Species Real? 87 Introduction 87 References and Further Reading 88 5 Species Are Real Biological Entities 91 Michael F. Claridge 6 Species Are Not Uniquely Real Biological Entities 110 Brent D. Mishler Part IV Does Selection Operate Primarily On Genes? 123 Introduction 123 References and Further Reading 125 7 Selection Does Operate Primarily on Genes: In Defense of the Gene as the Unit of Selection 127 Carmen Sapienza 8 Selection Does Not Operate Primarily on Genes 141 Richard M. Burian Part V Are Microevolution and Macroevolution Governed By the Same Processes? 165 Introduction 165 References and Further Reading 166 9 Microevolution and Macroevolution Are Governed by the Same Processes 169 Michael R. Dietrich 10 Microevolution and Macroevolution Are Not Governed by the Same Processes 180 Douglas H. Erwin Part VI Does Evolutionary Developmental Biology Offer a Significant Challenge To the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm? 195 Introduction 195 References and Further Reading 197 11 Evolutionary Developmental Biology Offers a Significant Challenge to the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm 199 Manfred D. Laubichler 12 Evolutionary Developmental Biology Does Not Offer a Significant Challenge to the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm 213 Alessandro Minelli Part VII Were the Basic Components of the Human Mind Solidified During the Pleistocene Epoch? 227 Introduction 227 References and Further Reading 228 13 The Basic Components of the Human Mind Were Solidified During the Pleistocene Epoch 231 Valerie G. Starratt and Todd K. Shackelford 14 The Basic Components of the Human Mind Were Not Solidified During the Pleistocene Epoch 243 Stephen M. Downes Part VIII Does Memetics Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural Evolution? 253 Introduction 253 References and Further Reading 254 15 Memetics Does Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural Evolution 255 Susan Blackmore 16 Memetics Does Not Provide a Useful Way of Understanding Cultural Evolution: A Developmental Perspective 273 William C. Wimsatt Part IX Can the Biological Sciences Act As a Ground For Ethics? 293 Introduction 293 References and Further Reading 295 17 The Biological Sciences Can Act as a Ground for Ethics 297 Michael Ruse 18 What the Biological Sciences Can and Cannot Contribute to Ethics 316 Francisco J. Ayala Part X Is There a Place For Intelligent Design In the Philosophy of Biology? 337 Introduction 337 References and Further Reading 340 19 There is a Place for Intelligent Design in the Philosophy of Biology: Intelligent Design in (Philosophy of) Biology: Some Legitimate Roles 343 Del Ratzsch 20 There is No Place for Intelligent Design in the Philosophy of Biology: Intelligent Design is Not Science 364 Francisco J. Ayala Index 391

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