Book Information

A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology

Edited by: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas, Austin) and Anya Plutynski (University of Utah)

Series: Blackwell Companions to Philosophy

Description

Comprised of essays by top scholars in the field, this volume offers concise overviews of philosophical issues raised by biology.

• Brings together a team of eminent scholars to explore the philosophical issues raised by biology
• Addresses traditional and emerging topics, spanning molecular biology and genetics, evolution, developmental biology, immunology, ecology, mind and behaviour, neuroscience, and experimentation
• Begins with a thorough introduction to the field
• Goes beyond previous treatments that focused only on evolution to give equal attention to other areas, such as molecular and developmental biology
• Represents both an authoritative guide to philosophy of biology, and an accessible reference work for anyone seeking to learn about this rapidly-changing field

TopTable of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
Notes on Contributors
Acknowledgments

Introduction: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas) and Anya Plutynski (University of Utah)

I. Molecular Biology and Genetics:
II.1. Gene Concepts: Hans-Jörg Rheinberger (Max Planck Institute for the History of Science) and 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)

II. 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. The Units and Levels of Selection: Samir Okasha (University of Bristol)
III.5. Molecular Evolution: Michael R. Dietrich (Dartmouth College)
III.6. Speciation and Macroevolution: Anya Plutynski (University of Utah)
III.7. Adaptationism: Peter Godfrey-Smith (Harvard University) and Jon F. Wilkins (Harvard University)

III. Developmental Biology:
IV.1. Phenotypic Plasticity and Reaction Norms: Jonathan M. 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)

IV. Medicine:
V.1. Self and Nonself: Moira Howes (Trent University)
V.2. Health and Disease: Dominic Murphy (Caltech)

V. 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. Peacock (University of Lethbridge)
VI.4. Biodiversity: Its Meaning and Value: Bryan G. Norton (Georgia Institute of Technology)

VI. Mind and Behavior:
VII.1. Ethology, Sociobiology, and Evolutionary Psychology: Paul E. Griffiths (University of Pittsburgh)
VII.2. Cooperation: J. McKenzie Alexander (London School of Economics)
VII.3. Language and Evolution: Derek Bickerton (University of Hawaii)

VII. Experimentation, Theory, and Themes:
VIII.1. What is Life?: Mark A. Bedau (Reed College)
VIII.2. Experimentation: Marcel Weber (University of Hanover)
VIII.3. Laws and Theories: 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

TopAbout the Author

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 Plutynksi is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah. She specializes in the history and philosophy of science.