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Philosophy of Biology (Dimensions of Philosophy)
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| List Price: | £27.99 |
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Product Description
The philosophy of biology has considerable implications for our understanding of the kind of beings we are. Perhaps because of this, it has been an area of rapid development and considerable controversy in recent years. This authoritative textbook offers a sophisticated but accessible guide to the traditional themes and the recent debates, assuming no prior training in philosophy or biology on the part of the reader. The central subject of the philosophy of biology is evolutionary theory. Professor Sober gives a clear account of the structure and explanatory significance of the theory, and considers the evidence for it; his discussion ranges over creationism, sociobiology, teleology, and the issue of nature versus nurture.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #906856 in Books
- Published on: 1993-05-13
- Original language: English
- Binding: Paperback
- 250 pages
Customer Reviews
Best short introduction to important growing topic.
In brief this was one of the best books I read in 1995. While the book is
a splendid introduction to an exciting topic, it has numerous special
insights and clarifying presentations. It keeps close to biology demonstrating
some fascinating respects in which biology and its theorists
raise special issues in the philosophy of science. The book
would go well with one of the main philosophy of natural sciences
textbooks.
fantastic in bursts
This work is presented as a book but it is really a collection of writings on the various philosophical problems which come up in biology (with an emphasis on evolution).
That said, Sober does a great job of identifying a list of philosophical problems which come up in biology, stating them very clearly and working through them with a philosopher's rigour.
I found this book useful, especially the sections on the tautology objection to the theory of evolution and also the material on the ontological status of species.
You might also like to look at 'Sex and Death' by Sterelny and Griffiths, for a more recent book on along the same lines.
