Thinking about Life: The history and philosophy of biology and other sciencesSpringer Science & Business Media, 5. 11. 2008. - 267 страница Our previous book, About Life, concerned modern biology. We used our present-day understanding of cells to ‘define’ the living state, providing a basis for exploring several general-interest topics: the origin of life, extraterrestrial life, intelligence, and the possibility that humans are unique. The ideas we proposed in About Life were intended as starting-points for debate – we did not claim them as ‘truth’ – but the information on which they were based is currently accepted as ‘scientific fact’. What does that mean? What is ‘scientific fact’ and why is it accepted? What is science – and is biology like other sciences such as physics (except in subject m- ter)? The book you are now reading investigates these questions – and some related ones. Like About Life, it may particularly interest a reader who wishes to change career to biology and its related subdisciplines. In line with a recommendation by the British Association for the Advancement of Science – that the public should be given fuller information about the nature of science – we present the concepts underpinning biology and a survey of its historical and philosophical basis. |
Садржај
1 | |
Culture Technology and Knowledge | 13 |
Classical Roots 25 | 24 |
Mediaeval Views of the World | 37 |
The Scientific Revolution | 57 |
The Scientific Revolution in Biology | 75 |
Aristotles Biology | 89 |
How Different Are Organisms from Inanimate Objects? | 99 |
Spontaneous Generation 147 | 146 |
The Evolution of Darwinism | 161 |
The Great Heredity Debate | 177 |
Evolutionary Theory Attains Maturity | 193 |
The Problem of Purpose 207 | 206 |
The Scientific Status of Biology | 215 |
Science and Philosophy | 229 |
Bibliography | 235 |
Друга издања - Прикажи све
Thinking about Life: The history and philosophy of biology and other sciences Paul S. Agutter,Denys N. Wheatley Приказ није доступан - 2010 |
Чести термини и фразе
accepted advances animals apparently applied argument Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle’s became become belief biology blood body called Cambridge causes cell century changes Chapter chemistry chromosomes Classical concept considered consistent contains continued culture Darwin debate Descartes described detail discovery distinction early Earth effect embryo established Europe evidence evolution evolutionary example existence experimental experiments explain force function genes genetic Greek human hypothesis ideas important individual influence inheritance Islamic Italy knowledge known largely later laws learning less living material mathematical matter means mechanics mechanistic natural selection Nicholas of Cusa notion objects observations organisation organisms origin particular philosophy physics plants population predictions principle problem produced progressive question reasoning remained scientific scientists seems sense showed society species spontaneous structure theory things thinking thought tion tradition understanding University University Press vital whole writings