A Companion To The Philosophy Of Biology Available Now

Business Wire, Feb 14, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82902) has announced the addition of "A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology" to their offering.

Comprised of essays by top scholars in the field, this volume offers concise overviews of philosophical issues raised by biology.

-Brings together a team of eminent scholars to explore the philosophical issues raised by biology

-Addresses traditional and emerging topics, spanning molecular biology and genetics, evolution, developmental biology, immunology, ecology, mind and behaviour, neuroscience, and experimentation

-Begins with a thorough introduction to the field

-Goes beyond previous treatments that focused only on evolution to give equal attention to other areas, such as molecular and developmental biology

-Represents both an authoritative guide to philosophy of biology, and an accessible reference work for anyone seeking to learn about this rapidly-changing field

Authors bio:

Sahotra Sarkar is Professor of Integrative Biology, Geography and the Environment, and Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of Genetics and Reductionism: A Primer (1998), Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy (2005), Molecular Models of Life (2005), Doubting Darwin? Creationist Designs on Evolution (2007); co-author of Systematic Conservation Planning (2007); editor of several books, including The Philosophy and History of Molecular Biology (1996), the six-volume Science and the Philosophy in the Twentieth Century: Basic Works of Logical Empiricism (1996), and the two-volume The Philosophy of Science: An Encyclopedia (2006).

Anya Plutynksi is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah. She specializes in the history and philosophy of science.

Topics Covered:

Introduction: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas) and Anya Plutynski (University of Utah).

Molecular Biology and Genetics:.

Gene Concepts: Staffan Muller-Wulle (University of Exeter).

Biological Information: Stefan Artmann (University of Jena).

Heredity and Heritability: Richard Lewontin (Harvard University).

Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond: Sahotra Sarkar (University of Texas).

Evolution:.

Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism: James G. Lennox (University of Pittsburgh).

Systematics and Taxonomy: Marc Ereshefsky (University of Calgary).

Population Genetics: Christopher Stephens (University of British Columbia).

Units and Levels of Selection: Samir Okasha (University of Bristol).

Molecular Evolution: Michael R. Dietrich (Dartmouth College) and John Beatty (University of British Columbia).

Speciation and Macroevolution: Anya Plutynski (University of Utah).

Adaptationism: Peter Godfrey-Smith (Harvard University) and Jon F. Wilkins (Harvard University).

Developmental Biology:.

Phenotypic Plasticity and Reaction Norms: Jonathan Kaplan (University of Tennessee).

Explaining the Ontogeny of Form: Philosophical Issues: Alan C. Love (University of Minnesota).

Development and Evolution: Ron Amundson (University of Hawaii).

Immunology:.

Self and Non-Self: Moira Howes (Trent University).

Health and Disease: Dominic Murphy (Caltech).

Ecology:.

Population Ecology: Mark Colyvan (University of Sydney).

Complexity, Diversity, and Stability: James Justus (University of Texas, Austin).

Ecosystems: Kent A. Peackock (University of Lethbridge).

Biodiversity: Its Meaning and Value: Bryan Norton (Georgia Institute of Technology).

Mind and Behavior:.

Ethology, Sociobiology, and Evolutionary Psychology: Paul Griffiths (University of Pittsburgh).

Cooperation: J. McKenzie Alexander (London School of Economics).

Language and Evolution: Derek Bickerton (University of Hawaii).

Experimentation, Theory, and Themes:.

What is Life?: Mark Bedau (Reed College).

Experimentation: Marcel Weber (University of Hanover).

Is Biology Like Physics?: Marc Lange (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill).

Models: Jay Odenbaugh (Lewis and Clark College).

Function and Teleology: Justin Garson (University of Texas, Austin).

Reductionism in Biology: Alexander Rosenberg (Duke University).

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82902.>

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