Essence in the Age of Evolution: A New Theory of Natural Kinds

ISBN-13: 9780815375067 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 144 str.

Christopher J. Austin

Opis

This book offers a defence of a highly contested philosophical position: biological natural kind essentialism. Austin challenges common objections to this theory, and in conjunction with contemporary scientific advancements within the field of evolutionary-developmental biology, he utilises a contemporary neo-Aristotelian metaphysics of dispositional properties, or causal powers, to provide a theory of essentialism centred on the developmental architecture of organisms and its role in the evolutionary process. By defending a novel theory of Aristotelian biological natural kind essentialism, this book represents an exciting union of cutting-edge philosophical insight and scientific knowledge.

O autorze

Christopher J. Austin is Head of Philosophy at Sutton Grammar School, London, and specialises in the metaphysics of science, with a particular focus on biology. Recent publications include ‘Dispositions in Evolutionary Developmental Biology’ in Evolutionary Developmental Biology: A Reference Guide, and ‘A Biologically Informed Hylomorphism’ in Neo-Aristotelian Perspectives on Contemporary Science.