Embryology, Epigenesis and Evolution
Taking Development Seriously

This book explores the nature of development against current trends in biological theory and practice.

Jason Scott Robert (Author)

9780521824675, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 March 2004

176 pages, 12 b/w illus.
23.6 x 16 x 1.8 cm, 0.425 kg

'Robert is a well published philosopher of biology who has tackled what he sees as genomania in the disciplines of developmental and evolutionary biology. … Robert switches back and forth from philosophical analysis to biological examples, which I found to be an interesting and intellectually stimulating format. … Robert presents his arguments clearly and concisely … I recommend that you read this book for its philosophical analyses and, if you are not already, start taking development seriously.' TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution

Historically, philosophers of biology have tended to sidestep the problem of development by focusing primarily on evolutionary biology and, more recently, on molecular biology and genetics. Quite often too, development has been misunderstood as simply, or even primarily, a matter of gene activation and regulation. Nowadays a growing number of philosophers of science are focusing their analyses on the complexities of development, and in Embryology, Epigenesis and Evolution Jason Scott Robert explores the nature of development against current trends in biological theory and practice and looks at the interrelations between development and evolution (evo-devo), an area of resurgent biological interest. Clearly written, this book should be of interest to students and professionals in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of biology.

List of figures
Preface
1. The problem of development
2. Exemplars
3. Scylla and Charybdis
4. Constitutive epigenetics
5. Creative development
6. A new synthesis?
7. The devil is in the Gestalt
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA]