Species : A History of the Idea / John S. Wilkins.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilkins, John S., Author.

Series:

Species and systematics ; v. 1.

Species and Systematics ; 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Species--History.

Species.

Species--Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (321 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, CA : University of California Press, [2009]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The complex idea of "species" has evolved over time, yet its meaning is far from resolved. This comprehensive work takes a fresh look at an idea central to the field of biology by tracing its history from antiquity to today. John S. Wilkins explores the essentialist view, a staple of logic from Plato and Aristotle through the Middle Ages to fairly recent times, and considers the idea of species in natural history-a concept often connected to reproduction. Tracing "generative conceptions" of species back through Darwin to Epicurus, Wilkins provides a new perspective on the relationship between philosophical and biological approaches to this concept. He also reviews the array of current definitions. Species is a benchmark exploration and clarification of a concept fundamental to the past, present, and future of the natural sciences.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

PROLOGUE

THE CLASSICAL ERA: SCIENCE BY DIVISION

THE MEDIEVAL BRIDGE

SPECIES AND THE BIRTH OF MODERN SCIENCE

THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY : A PERIOD OF CHANGE

DARWIN AND THE DARWINIANS

THE SPECIES PROBLEM ARISES

THE SYNTHESIS AND SPECIES

MODERN DEBATES

HISTORICAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Notes

References

Index

About the Author

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9786612360039

9781282360037

1282360035

9780520945074

0520945077

OCLC:

592756172