
Brill’s Companion to the Philosophy of Biology
Entities, Processes, Implications
2019
978-90-04-38308-1
In this volume, Andrea Borghini and Elena Casetta introduce a wide spectrum of key philosophical problems related to life sciences in a neat framework and an accessible style, with a special emphasis on metaphysical issues. The volume is divided into three parts. The first addresses the two main questions stemming from life sciences: what is life, and what is the correct understanding of the theory of evolution? The second part looks at metaphysical questions concerning biological entities: environments, species, organisms, and biological individuals. The third part focuses on theoretical questions of particular ethical and political significance: sex and gender, the biotechnological revolution, and the evolution of behavior and culture. Each chapter is followed by a list of further readings.
Contents
Preface to the English Translation vii
Foreword … viii
Introduction: From Biology to Philosophy— and Back … 1
part 1 – Processes
- Life … 17
- Darwin … 35
- Evolution after Darwin … 52
Part 2 – Entities
- Biodiversity … 73
- Species … 97
- Organisms … 120
- Individuals … 141
Part 3 – Implications
- Sex … 171
- The Biotechnological Revolution … 188
- Other Evolutions … 209