Books in the Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy and Biology series

Ecology is indispensable to understanding the biological world and addressing environmental problems humanity faces. Its philosophy has never been more important. This book introduces the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological issues ecology poses in accessible language, and is illustrated with scientifically informed, up-to-date examples.

This book explains the engagement between biology and religion on issues related to origins, evolution, evil, purpose, love, humanity, morality, ecology, and the nature of religion itself. It will serve as the perfect introduction for upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, scholars, and interested general readers.

A comprehensive philosophical introduction to modern biological classification which covers its cultural, psychological and linguistic basis, its history from Aristotle to modern evolutionary approaches, and recent and ongoing debates about theoretical basis and methods.

This textbook is a comprehensive analysis of the agro-biotechnology controversy, looking especially at genetically modified organisms. It includes an explanation of the scientific background, an analysis of ideological objections, discussion of legal and ethical concerns, and a suggested alternative - organic agriculture.

In the wake of the paleobiological revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, paleontologists continue to investigate far-reaching questions about how evolution works. Derek Turner introduces the reader to exciting recent work in the philosophy of paleontology and the diverse issues such as punctuated equilibrium and species selection.

Michael Ruse provides a unique discussion of human evolution from a philosophical viewpoint, exploring such topics as the nature of scientific theories, the relationships between culture and biology, the problem of progress and the extent to which evolutionary issues pose problems for religious beliefs.

In the past century, nearly all of the biological sciences have been directly affected by discoveries and developments in genetics, a fast-evolving subject with important theoretical dimensions. In this rich and accessible book, Paul Griffiths and Karola Stotz show how the concept of the gene has evolved and diversified across the many fields that make up modern biology. By examining the molecular biology of the 'environment', they situate genetics in the developmental biology of whole organisms, and reveal how the molecular biosciences have undermined the nature/nurture distinction. Their discussion gives full weight to the revolutionary impacts of molecular biology, while rejecting 'genocentrism' and 'reductionism', and brings the topic right up to date with the philosophical implications of the most recent developments in genetics. Their book will be invaluable for those studying the philosophy of biology, genetics and other life sciences.