Overview
Bringing together the latest scientific advances and some of the most enduring subtle philosophical puzzles and problems, this book collects original historical and contemporary sources to explore the wide range of issues surrounding the nature of life. Selections ranging from Aristotle and Descartes to Sagan and Dawkins are organised around four broad themes covering classical discussions of life, the origins and extent of natural life, contemporary artificial life creations and the definition and meaning of 'life' in its most general form. Each section is preceded by an extensive introduction connecting the various ideas discussed in individual chapters and providing helpful background material for understanding them. With its interdisciplinary perspective, this fascinating collection is essential reading for scientists and philosophers interested in astrobiology, synthetic biology and the philosophy of life.
Full Product Details
Author: Mark A. Bedau (Reed College, Oregon) ,
Carol E. Cleland (University of Colorado, Boulder)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing)
ISBN: 9780511730191
ISBN 10: 0511730195
Publication Date: 10 November 2010
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Undefined
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.
Reviews
'Editing a book of this kind always entails a risk because the particular professional interests and idiosyncrasies of the editors will affect the choice of contributions. However, I believe that the multifarious and matching interests of the editors were instrumental in producing an up-to-date and complete collection that will help the student of biology and philosophy alike. The editors did an outstanding job at devising an anthology that will be useful as a teaching instrument in a variety of classes in a variety of different disciplines. A marvellous book.' Metapsychology Online Reviews Editing a book of this kind always entails a risk because the particular professional interests and idiosyncrasies of the editors will affect the choice of contributions. However, I believe that the multifarious and matching interests of the editors were instrumental in producing an up to date and complete collection that will help the student of biology and philosophy alike. The editors did an outstanding job at devising an anthology that will be useful as a teaching instrument in a variety of classes in a variety of different disciplines. A marvelous book. Davide Vecchi, metapsychology online reviews This is an admirable collection of incisive articles on a topic so fundamental and difficult that its resolution undoubtedly demands an interdisciplinary approach. Peter Takacs, Quarterly Review of Biology
'Editing a book of this kind always entails a risk because the particular professional interests and idiosyncrasies of the editors will affect the choice of contributions. However, I believe that the multifarious and matching interests of the editors were instrumental in producing an up-to-date and complete collection that will help the student of biology and philosophy alike. The editors did an outstanding job at devising an anthology that will be useful as a teaching instrument in a variety of classes in a variety of different disciplines. A marvellous book.' Metapsychology Online Reviews
Author Information
Mark A. Bedau is Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Reed College, Oregon and a regular Visiting Professor at the European School of Molecular Medicine, in Milan, Italy. He is an internationally recognized leader in the philosophical and scientific study of living systems and has published and lectured extensively on issues concerning emergence, evolution, life, mind, and the social and ethical implications of creating life from nonliving materials. Carol E. Cleland is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado (Boulder). She is a central figure in the emerging science of astrobiology and has published in major science as well as philosophy journals. Her research focuses on issues in scientific methodology, historical science (especially earth and planetary science), biology (especially microbiology, origins of life, the nature of life, and astrobiology), and the theory of computation.
