Evolutionary Biology: Conceptual, Ethical, and Religious IssuesR. Paul Thompson, Denis Walsh Evolution - both the fact that it occurred and the theory describing the mechanisms by which it occurred - is an intrinsic and central component in modern biology. Theodosius Dobzhansky captures this well in the much-quoted title of his 1973 paper 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution'. The correctness of this assertion is even more obvious today: philosophers of biology and biologists agree that the fact of evolution is undeniable and that the theory of evolution explains that fact. Such a theory has far-reaching implications. In this volume, eleven distinguished scholars address the conceptual, metaphysical and epistemological richness of the theory and its ethical and religious impact, exploring topics including DNA barcoding, three grand challenges of human evolution, functionalism, historicity, design, evolution and development, and religion and secular humanism. The volume will be of great interest to those studying philosophy of biology and evolutionary biology. |
Contents
whence and whither? | 13 |
Religion truth and progress | 45 |
Consilience historicity and the species problem | 65 |
DNA barcoding and taxonomic practice | 87 |
Darwins theory and the value of mathematical | 109 |
Population genetics economic theory and eugenics | 137 |
Other editions - View all
Evolutionary Biology: Conceptual, Ethical, and Religious Issues R. Paul Thompson,Denis Walsh No preview available - 2014 |
Evolutionary Biology: Conceptual, Ethical, and Religious Issues R. Paul Thompson,Denis Walsh No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptation approaches to species architect analogy argued axiom Ayala biodiversity biologists Cambridge causal cells chance chapter consilience contribution Darwin Darwin’s theory Darwinian developmental evolution DNA barcoding economic entities entropy Ereshefsky ethical behavior Etiological Theory eugenic evo-devo evolutionary biology Evolutionary Developmental Biology evolutionary theory example fact Family Allowances Fisher function ascriptions Galton Gene Regulatory Networks genealogical genetic genome goal heredity Hull human idea important increase individuals interbreeding Kitcher labellum Laubichler lineages Malthusian parameter mathematical Mendel’s Mendelian Michael Ruse molecular molecules moral mutation natural selection ofBiology ofthe orchid organisms Origin outcome phenotypic philosophy of biology Philosophy ofScience phylogenetic physics population probability produce question red environment religion religious replication reproductive value role scientific second law sequence social speciation species category Species Concept species problem structure taxa taxonomists taxonomy teleological teleological explanation teleology theism Theory of Function thesis tion trait understanding