Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780226773049)

Is the history of life a series of accidents or a drama scripted by selfish genes? Is there an "essential" human nature, determined at birth or in a distant evolutionary past? What should we conserve--species, ecosystems, or something else?

Informed answers to questions like these, critical to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, require both a knowledge of biology and a philosophical framework within which to make sense of its findings. In this accessible introduction to philosophy of biology, Kim Sterelny and Paul E. Griffiths present both the science and the philosophical context necessary for a critical understanding of the most exciting debates shaping biology today. The authors, both of whom have published extensively in this field, describe the range of competing views--including their own--on these fascinating topics.

With its clear explanations of both biological and philosophical concepts, Sex and Death will appeal not only to undergraduates, but also to the many general readers eager to think critically about the science of life.


Author: Kim Sterelny, Paul E. Griffiths
ISBN-10: 0226773043
ISBN-13: 9780226773049
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Published: 06/15/1999
Pages: 456
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.31lbs
Size: 8.97h x 6.01w x 0.96d