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In this invaluable book, Tim Lewens shows in a clear and accessible manner how important Darwin is for philosophy and how his work has shaped and challenged the very nature of the subject.
Beginning with an overview of Darwin’s life and work, the subsequent chapters discuss the full range of fundamental philosophical topics from a Darwinian perspective. These include natural selection; the origin and nature of species; the role of evidence in scientific enquiry; the theory of Intelligent Design; evolutionary approaches to the human mind; the implications of Darwin’s work for ethics and epistemology; and the question of how social and political thought needs to be updated in the light of a Darwinian understanding of human nature. A concluding chapter assesses the philosophical legacy of Darwin’s thought.
Darwin is essential reading for anyone in the humanities, social sciences and sciences seeking a philosophical introduction to Darwin, or anyone simply seeking a philosophical companion to Darwin’s own writings.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 27, 2019
the impact of Darwin and his work on philosophy is dealt with extensively and thoroughly.
One point of interest and importance is that directed input to thinking will produce similar output.
A very ancient example is religion. If you are reared in an environment which regularly supports
Shinto you are likely to have a shinto bent. If you are reared among Hebrews one can imagine your
later thinking, as with Catholicism, Hinduism, etc.
Another example would be language. If your household and all people you know speak German
what will you speak?
More recently, input lends itself to self selection more handily than before computers made it easy to gear your homepage to bring in right or left leaning input.
. . . the fact that a theory is able to successfully explain diverse phenomena is, Darwin thinks, strongly indicative of the theory's truth. This mode of explanation has become known a Inference to the Best Explanation -- IBE p. 87
It is baffling why an intelligent God should choose to build the horse, the mole and the bat on the same anatomical plan when their environments make such different demands on them. p. 111
the most we could conclude from this {set of facts] is that w don't know how to explain it. This would hardly show all by itself that an intelligent agent probably is responsible. p. 114
. . . basic emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, , surprise, and disgust. p. 142
I have always maintained that, excepting fools, men did not differ much in intellect, only in zeal and hard work. . . p. 191
. . . this view has it that we can control the inputs people receive, and thereby the outputs they produce. . . . p. 223 !!!!!!!!
Thus, evolutionary psychology predicts, explains and vindicates what everybody already knows and only a fool would deny about he differences between what men and women want. p. 228
One point of interest and importance is that directed input to thinking will produce similar output.
A very ancient example is religion. If you are reared in an environment which regularly supports
Shinto you are likely to have a shinto bent. If you are reared among Hebrews one can imagine your
later thinking, as with Catholicism, Hinduism, etc.
Another example would be language. If your household and all people you know speak German
what will you speak?
More recently, input lends itself to self selection more handily than before computers made it easy to gear your homepage to bring in right or left leaning input.
. . . the fact that a theory is able to successfully explain diverse phenomena is, Darwin thinks, strongly indicative of the theory's truth. This mode of explanation has become known a Inference to the Best Explanation -- IBE p. 87
It is baffling why an intelligent God should choose to build the horse, the mole and the bat on the same anatomical plan when their environments make such different demands on them. p. 111
the most we could conclude from this {set of facts] is that w don't know how to explain it. This would hardly show all by itself that an intelligent agent probably is responsible. p. 114
. . . basic emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, , surprise, and disgust. p. 142
I have always maintained that, excepting fools, men did not differ much in intellect, only in zeal and hard work. . . p. 191
. . . this view has it that we can control the inputs people receive, and thereby the outputs they produce. . . . p. 223 !!!!!!!!
Thus, evolutionary psychology predicts, explains and vindicates what everybody already knows and only a fool would deny about he differences between what men and women want. p. 228
January 30, 2019
150411: useful exploration of philosophy and impact of essential themes of darwin: evolution by natural selection of populations. of species transforming into entirely new species. of how this is scientifically rigorous, believable, truthful, from the vast compilations of gathered species. this is not dogma. surprises me how darwin continues to be relevant, inspiring, useful in a wide range of fields of science.
does not avoid controversy about relevance of id. does not neglect ways in which his theories are in error, how some arguments can be easily born of the varied political perspectives evolution spawns. does not make the man a saint. but overall, very concise understanding of his generous thoughts, on the role of environment, on the question of altruism, on the role of sex as well as resource limitations, on spurring change. how ultimately humans must learn to make moral claims through the niche we intend to inhabit, and leave for our descendants.
evolutionary thought is too often harnessed to contemporary structure of environment, but there is also something of a tree of life that can prune errors. evolutionary thought is not the first, or the final, way to decide how to be human. but it is an effective and useful aid...
does not avoid controversy about relevance of id. does not neglect ways in which his theories are in error, how some arguments can be easily born of the varied political perspectives evolution spawns. does not make the man a saint. but overall, very concise understanding of his generous thoughts, on the role of environment, on the question of altruism, on the role of sex as well as resource limitations, on spurring change. how ultimately humans must learn to make moral claims through the niche we intend to inhabit, and leave for our descendants.
evolutionary thought is too often harnessed to contemporary structure of environment, but there is also something of a tree of life that can prune errors. evolutionary thought is not the first, or the final, way to decide how to be human. but it is an effective and useful aid...
April 24, 2007
For the most part this is a really strong introduction to Darwin's thought and various stripes of neo-Darwinian theory and contraversy up to the present. Lewens is at his best as a philosopher of biology but gets a little worrying when he takes on normative ethics. One of the best features of this book is a short list of recommended texts for the various subjects he covers in his chapters.
January 8, 2016
I have no head for biology, so much of this book went over my head. However, for a general introduction to Darwin's life, this book is very informative and easy to understand. For introduction and explanation of his theories, it is too difficult for laypeople, especially if you have weak background in biology.
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July 13, 2007Another Routledge book. They seem to comprise a large portion of my personal library.
June 6, 2012
An excellent, interdisciplinary book that opened up some new paths of thought.
October 13, 2014
Most enlightening but slightly difficult! And a good book for beginner philosophers!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews