Understanding Species

Erscheinungsjahr 2023
ISBN: 978-1-108-98719-6
Verlag: Cambridge University Pr.

Buch, Englisch, 150 Seiten, Format (B × H): 126 mm x 170 mm, Gewicht: 184 g

Reihe: Understanding Life

Are species worth saving? Can they be resurrected by technology? What is the use of species in biomedicine? These questions all depend on a clear definition of the concept of 'species', yet biologists have long struggled to define this term. In this accessible book, John S. Wilkins provides an introduction to the concept of 'species' in biology, philosophy, ethics, policymaking and conservation. Using clear language and easy-to-understand examples throughout, the book provides a history of species and why we use them. It encourages readers to appreciate the philosophical depth of the concept as well as its connections to logic and science. For any interested reader, this short text highlights the complexities of a single idea in biology, the problems with the concept of 'species' and the benefits of it in helping us to answer the bigger questions and understand our living world.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wilkins, John S.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Evolutionsbiologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword; Preface; 1. How species matter; 2. Classifying species; 3. Making species; 4. A short history of species and kinds; 5. Philosophy and species; 6. Finding species; 7. Extinction, or how species are lost; 8. The value of species; 9. Replacing species; 10. Conclusions and summary; Summary of misunderstandings of species; Readings; Figure credits; Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Wilkins, John S.
John S. Wilkins teaches at the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia. His main research interests include the philosophy and history of biology and classification, and the cognitive science of religion. He is the author of many books, including Species: A History of the Idea (CRC Press, 2018).