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Author:   M. Ruse
Publisher:   Springer
Imprint:   Kluwer Academic Publishers
Edition:   Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1981
Volume:   17
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.500kg
ISBN:  

9789027712509

ISBN 10:   9027712506
Pages:   299
Publication Date:   31 July 1981
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

1. The Structure of Evolutionary Theory.- 1.1. Three features of physico-chemical theories.- 1.2. Evolutionary theory and the observational/theoretical dichotomy.- 1.3. Is evolutionary theory hypothetico-deductive?.- 1.4. But is genetics really part of evolutionary theory?.- 1.5. The consilient nature of evolutionary theory.- 1.6. Conclusion.- Notes.- 2. The Evidence for Evolutionary Theory.- 2.1. Evidence for the synthetic theory’s core.- 2.2. Evidence for the whole theory.- 2.3. Rivals: The first chapter of Genesis.- 2.4. Rivals: Lamarckism.- 2.5. Rivals: Saltationism.- 2.6. Rivals: Orthogenesis.- 2.7. Evolutionary logic.- Notes.- 3. Karl Popper and Evolutionary Biology.- 3.1. Evolutionary theory as a metaphysical research programme.- 3.2. The problem of speciation.- 3.3. Is natural selection a tautology?.- 3.4. The problem of gradual change.- 3.5. Popperian saltationism.- 3.6. Evolutionary biology and evolutionary epistemology.- 4. The Last Word on Teleology, or Optimality Models Vindicated.- 4.1. The teleology of biology.- 4.2. Artifacts and adaption.- 4.3. Consequences and amplifications.- Notes.- 5. The Molecular Revolution in Genetics.- 5.1. Scientific advance: reduction or replacement?.- 5.2. What kind of revolution occurred in genetics?.- 5.3. But did ‘strong’ reduction really occur?.- 5.4. David Hull objects.- Notes.- 6. Does Genetic Counselling Really Raise The Quality of Life?.- 6.1. Genetic counseling.- 6.2. The John F. Kennedy Institute Tay-Sachs programme.- 6.3. The limitations to genetic counseling.- 6.4. The problem of abortion.- 6.5. The problem of the poor.- 6.6. The problem of minorities.- 6.7. What is genetic disease?.- 6.8. Conclusion.- Notes.- 7. The Recombinant Dna Debate: A Tempest in A Test Tube?.- 7.1. The recombinant DNA debate.- 7.2.The nature of recombinant DNA research.- 7.3. The positive case for recombinant DNA research.- 7.4. The negative case against recombinant DNA research.- 7.5. Do the benefits outweight the risks?.- 7.6. The dangers of recombinant DNA research.- 7.7. The argument from epidemiology.- 7.8. Recombinant DNA research considered as science.- 7.9. Can one really separate science and technology?.- 7.10. Epilogue.- Notes.- 8. Sociobiology: Sound Science or Muddled Metaphysics?.- 8.1. What is sociobiology.- 8.2. Humans as seen through the lens of sociobiology.- 8.3. Other sociobiological claims.- 8.4. Is human sociobiology facist?.- 8.5. Is sociobiology prejudiced against homosexuals?.- 8.6. The testability of sociobiology.- 8.7. The falsity of sociobiology.- 8.8. Sociobiology and philosophy.- Notes.- 9. Is Science Sexist? The Case of Sociobiology.- 9.1. How science can show bias.- 9.2. Freudian psychoanalytic theory.- 9.3. The sociobiology of human sexuality: Wilson.- 9.4. The sociobiology of human sexuality: Symons.- 9.5. Is sociobiology sexist? The lesser charges.- 9.6. Is sociobiology sexist? The major charge.- 9.7. Concluding reflections for the feminist.- Notes.- 10. Are Homosexuals Sick?.- 10.1.Two models of health and sickness.- 10.2. The empirical facts about homosexuality.- 10.3. Psychoanalytic causal explanations.- 10.4. Endocrinal causal explanations of homosexuality.- 10.5. Sociobiological causal explanations.- 10.6. Conclusion.- Appendix 1. Matrix comparing sickness models against putative facts about homosexuality.- Appendix 2. Freud’s letter to an American Mother.- Notes.- Name Index.

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