Biology Archives | National Humanities Center

Biology

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Chance in Evolution

Edited by Grant Ramsey (NHC Fellow, 2015–16) and Charles H. Pence Humans, however much we would care to think otherwise, do not represent the fated pinnacle of ape evolution. The diversity of life, from single-celled organisms to multicellular animals and plants, is the result of a long, complex, and highly chancy history. But how profoundly … Continued

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Cosmology and Biology in Ancient Philosophy: From Thales to Avicenna

Edited by Ricardo Salles (NHC Fellow, 2018–19) In antiquity living beings are inextricably linked to the cosmos as a whole. Ancient biology and cosmology depend upon one another and therefore a complete understanding of one requires a full account of the other. This volume addresses many philosophical issues that arise from this double relation. Does … Continued

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Philosophy of Biology: A Contemporary Introduction

By Alexander Rosenberg (NHC Fellow, 2006–07) Is life a purely physical process? What is human nature? Which of our traits is essential to us? In this volume, Daniel McShea and Alex Rosenberg – a biologist and a philosopher, respectively – join forces to create a new gateway to the philosophy of biology; making the major … Continued

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Toward a More Natural Science: Biology and Human Affairs

By Leon R. Kass (NHC Fellow, 1984–85) The relation between the pursuit of knowledge and the conduct of life—between science and ethics, each broadly conceived—has in recent years been greatly complicated by developments in the science of life. This book examines the ethical questions involved in prenatal screening, in vitro fertilization, artificial life forms, and … Continued