Darwin's Philosophical Legacy: The Good and the Not-So-Good
136Darwin's Philosophical Legacy: The Good and the Not-So-Good
136Hardcover
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Overview
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780739175200 |
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Publisher: | Lexington Books |
Publication date: | 05/18/2012 |
Pages: | 136 |
Product dimensions: | 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d) |
Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Selection Filter: The Good LegacyChapter 2: Selection Filter? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 3: Heredity: The Good LegacyChapter 4: Heredity? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 5: Reductionism: The Good LegacyChapter 6: Reductionism? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 7: Unified Theory: The Good LegacyChapter 8: Unified Theory? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 9: Randomness: The Good LegacyChapter 10: Randomness? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 11: No Purpose: The Good LegacyChapter 12: No Purpose? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 13: No Designer: The Good LegacyChapter 14: No Designer? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 15: Gradualism: The Good LegacyChapter 16: Gradualism? A Not-So-Good LegacyChapter 17: No Thresholds: The Good LegacyChapter 18: No Thresholds? A Not-So-Good LegacyWhat People are Saying About This
In Darwin’s Philosophical Legacy, Gerard Verschuuren develops a point-counterpoint dialectic that is didactically effective to explain some fundamental tenets of the theory of evolution and their abuse by theories such as racism, Social Darwinism, Intelligent Design, and the like. Fascinating book. Read Darwin’s Philosophical Legacy, you’ll learn and enjoy it.
Charles Darwin's formulation of evolution by natural selection may indeed be the best idea that anyone has ever had. At the core of the biological sciences, evolution is the thread that links anatomy to molecular biology, ecology to biochemistry, and paleontology to development. But it is also an idea whose philosophical impact has transcended biology to influence both the social sciences and the humanities. As Gerard Verschuuren makes clear, this influence has not always been for the better. Serious ideas have serious consequences, and readers interested in evolution's powerful philosophical legacies will find this provocative new work a must-read.
Gerard M. Verschuuren provides a first-rate analysis of Darwin’s philosophical legacy, especially in terms of a balanced assessment of Darwin’s argument and the assumptions underlying it. In contrast to authors who paint Darwin in black or white colors, i.e. either all right or all wrong, Verschuuren paints a portraiture of Darwin that includes the full spectrum of colors—both pleasing to the eye and not. The outcome is a very vibrant and clear book, which gives the reader a fair sense of the impact Darwin’s notion of evolution has had upon understanding ourselves and our place in nature. Overall, Verschuuren provides a novel and credible exploration of Darwin’s legacy from a philosophical perspective.
This is an interesting and controversial take on Darwinism and its philosophical implications and legacy. Clearly written, it will undoubtedly promote lively discussion even by those who do not agree with the author’s conclusions. Recommended, especially for those who want to learn more about the issues.