Darwin's Legacy: What Evolution Means Today

by John Dupré

Overview

Charles Darwin transformed our understanding of the universe and our place in it with his development of the theory of evolution. 150 years later, we are still puzzling over the implications. John Dupré presents a lucid, witty introduction to evolution and what it means for our view of humanity, the natural world, and religion. He explains the right and the wrong ways to understand evolution: in the latter category fall most of the claims of evolutionary psychology, of which Dupré gives a withering critique. He shows why the theory of evolution is one of the most important scientific ideas of all time, but makes clear that it can't explain everything - contrary to widespread popular belief, it has very little to tell us about the details of human nature and human behaviour, such as language, culture, and sexuality. Darwin's Legacy clears a path through the confusion and controversy surrounding evolution; anyone who is interested in understanding what the theory of evolution can and can't do will find this a compelling and enjoyable introduction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191501005
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	11/27/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John A. Dupr is Professor of Philosophy of Science & Director of the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society at the University of Exeter. He lectures extensively in the U.K., North America, and Europe. His main area of research is the philosophy of science with special interest in the philosophy of biology, the role of values in science, and the nature of biological species. His books include Human Nature and the Limits of Science (OUP).

Table of Contents

1.	Introduction	1
2.	What is the Theory of Evolution?	12
3.	What is the Theory of Evolution Good For?	27
4.	Human Origins and the Decline of Theism	41
5.	Humans and Other Animals	63
6.	Human Nature	77
7.	Race and Gender	99
8.	Conclusion	119
	Further Reading	124
	Index	131

Editorial Reviews

"John Dupré has been one of the philosophers in the forefront of this rethinking of science. He has helped us to rethink what science is, in the light of biology and of evolution. More recently, however, he has turned from defending the biological sciences from those who would disparage them, to attacking them."—Neil Levy, Metapsychology Online Review

From the Publisher