Taking Darwin Seriously : Naturalistic Approach to Philosophy

Ruse, Michael

ISBN 10: 0631154787 / ISBN 13: 9780631154785

Editore: Blackwell Publishers, 1987

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Pbk, 303 p. Previous owner's name on half t.p., edges tanned o/w a clean unmarked copy in very good condition. Contents : The biological background -- The fact of evolution -- The path of evolution -- The theory of evolution: natural selection -- The theory of evolution: modern genetics -- Good science? -- Evolutionary epistemology -- Evolution as analogy -- Herbert Spenser and the law of progress -- Stephen Toulmin's Darwinian model -- The analogy considered: the fact of evolution -- The analogy considered: the path of evolution -- The analogy considered: the cause of evolution -- Donald Campbell's Darwinian variations -- Karl Popper and the revision of Darwinism -- Evolutionary ethics -- Moral issues -- Evolution and ethics -- Herbert Spencer and the moral value of progress -- Spencerian problems -- William Graham Sumner and Social Darwinism -- Thomas Henry Huxley and his stand against nature -- Hume's law and the naturalistic fallacy -- Is the natural innately good? -- Edward O. Wilson and the foundations of morality -- The evolution of the moral sense -- Human evolution -- The fact of human evolution -- The path human evolution -- The cause of human evolution -- The problem of culture -- The biology of language -- Ape language -- Is culture independent of biology? -- Epigenetic rules -- Darwinian epistemology -- The nature of science -- Scientific reasoning -- The case for a biological backing -- The case for (continued) -- The case against -- The rivals to science -- Philosophical precursor: Kant? -- Philosophical precurser: Hume? -- Common-sense realism -- Metaphysical scepticism -- Konrad Lorenz and the biological a priori -- The ultimate foundations -- Darwinian ethics -- Substantive ethics -- Meta-ethics -- The evolution of morality -- The empirical evidence: social animals -- The empirical evidence: chimpanzees -- The empirical evidence: humans -- Substantive ethics reconsidered: utilitarianism -- My family and other animals -- To give and not to count the cost -- Substantive ethics reconsidered: Kantianism -- Moral disagreements -- Darwinian meta-ethics -- Objectifying morality -- Stepping around Hume's law -- Freedom of choice -- Possible precursor: Kant? -- Possible precursor: Hume? [Darwin, Charles 1809-1882 - Evolution (Biology) Philosophy] t186 / m15830.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Taking Darwin Seriously : Naturalistic Approach to Philosophy
• Editore: Blackwell Publishers
• Data di pubblicazione: 1987
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0631154787
• ISBN 13: 9780631154785
• Rilegatura: Soft cover
• Condizione: Very Good
• Condizione della sovraccoperta: No Jacket

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

In this controversial and stimulating book, Michael Ruse explores the ways in which biological theory, expounded in Charles Darwin's great work, `On the Origin of Species', can most fruitfully inform philosophical understanding. Continuing the debate on evolution in general, and Darwinism in particular, the author demonstrates the ways in which accepting our `animal' nature influences our perception of the external world and our moral dealings with other people. `This, I venture to say, is the best book written to date on the philosophy of evolutionary biology. In a distinctively clear, incisive style, Ruse brings natural selection to the front of general philosophy and makes it henceforth unavoidable as part of analysis. Similarly, he shows why philosophy is an essential subject for the future of biology.' `Edward O. Wilson' `Both evolutionary biologists and philosophers will find much in it to ponder with profit.' `Nature' This book is now published in paperback for the first time. Student and professional philosophers, biologists.

Présentation de l'éditeur

First published a decade ago, Michael Ruse's Taking Darwin Seriously established itself as one of the most important works on evolutionary naturalism since Darwin's own Origin of Species in 1859. Updated with a new preface and final chapter, this timely volume challenges the threadworn arguments as well as the new claims of creationism seeping into mainstream education, science, and philosophy, and reestablishes solid arguments supporting the science of Charles Darwin.

Applying evolutionary biology to traditional philosophical problems, this volume establishes a naturalistic approach to our understanding of life's major problems. Ruse argues thoughtfully that to understand the problems of knowledge (epistemology) and of moral thought and behavior (ethics), we must know that we are the end-products of the natural process of evolution rather than the special creation of a supernatural god. At the same time, he warns evolutionists who would fashion an atheistic secular religion from their science.

Written in an easy style to interest the professional and the general reader, this book is a pillar of philosophy intended as a direct challenge to all those who would push creationism as a credible alternative to scientific evolution in public schools, universities, and as a general theory of public consumption.