Species - A History of the Idea

1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-0-520-26085-6
Verlag: University of California Press

Buch, Englisch, Band 1, 320 Seiten, Cloth Over Boards, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 619 g

Reihe: Species and Systematics

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wilkins, John S.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Evolutionsbiologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Taxonomie und Systematik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface vii
Acknowledgments xiii

Prologue 1

The Classical Era: Science by Division 9

The Medieval Bridge 35

Species and the Birth of Modern Science 47

The Early Nineteenth Century: A Period of Change 97

Darwin and the Darwinians 129

The Species Problem Arises 165

The Synthesis and Species 181

Modern Debates 197

Reproductive Isolation Concepts 197

Evolutionary Species Concepts 201

Phylogenetic Species Concepts 205

Other Species Concepts 216

Historical Summary and Conclusions 227

Notes 235
References 251
Index 289
About the Author

Über Autor(innen)

John S. Wilkins is Research Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Sydney. He is the author of Defining Species: A Sourcebook from Antiquity to Today.