Philosophy of Biology Evolving

Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology is a unique and invaluable contribution to philosophy of biology texts for course use. Like the dozen previously published volumes in the Wiley-Blackwell “Contemporary Debates in Philosophy” series, this book is organized into parts, with each part representing a fundamental philosophical question followed by a pair of especially commissioned essays by eminent scholars arguing for opposing positions. In a General Introduction the editors situate the philosophy of biology in relation to science and to philosophy taken as broad fields of inquiry, address the potentially mutually beneficial relationships between biology and philosophy taken as distinct disciplines, and then focus more narrowly on identifying the central topics within contemporary philosophy of biology. Each part of the book also includes an introduction by the editors to the main questions and issues addressed in that part, along with suggestions for further reading. Each of the twenty essays begins with a brief abstract, and concludes with a list of References and suggestions for Further Reading. A short section at the end of each essay permits the authors to respond to the arguments of the opposing essay. The order of the specific topics flows logically from beginning to end, with frequent points of connection between the essays in one part of the book and those in another. The substantial introductory and bibliographical apparatus accompanying the parts and essays in this book are explained by its intended use by students in philosophy and biology being exposed to these issues perhaps for the first time, and for more seasoned scholars who wish to get a sense of the issues and debates in this sub-discipline of the philosophy of science and how to pursue them farther.