What Biological Functions Are And Why They Matter
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What Biological Functions Are And Why They Matter
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Author : Justin Garson
language : en
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Release Date : 2019-01-10
What Biological Functions Are And Why They Matter written by Justin Garson and has been published by Cambridge University Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-01-10 with History categories.
This accessible book presents a new theory of biological functions and connects it to contemporary problems in philosophy and science.
The Biological Mind
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Author : Justin Garson
language : en
Publisher: Routledge
Release Date : 2022-03-17
The Biological Mind written by Justin Garson and has been published by Routledge this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2022-03-17 with Philosophy categories.
For some, biology explains all there is to know about the mind. Yet many big questions remain: Is the mind shaped by genes or the environment? If mental traits are the result of adaptations built up over thousands of years, as evolutionary psychologists claim, how can such claims be tested? If the mind is a machine, as biologists argue, how does it allow for something as complex as human thought? Revised and updated to take account of new developments in the field, The Biological Mind: A Philosophical Introduction explores these questions and more, using the philosophy of biology to introduce and assess the nature of the mind. Justin Garson addresses the following key topics: moral psychology, altruism, and levels of selection; evolutionary psychology and the adaptationism debate; genes, environment, and the nature–nurture debate; natural selection and mental representation; psychiatric classification and the maladapted mind. This second edition includes three new chapters on race, sex, and human nature as well as new sections on group and kin selection, psychological altruism, and cultural evolution. Including chapter summaries, annotated further readings, a glossary of terms, and examples and case studies throughout, this is an indispensable introduction for those teaching philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of biology. It will also be an excellent resource for those in related fields such as biology.
A Critical Overview Of Biological Functions
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Author : Justin Garson
language : en
Publisher: Springer
Release Date : 2016-03-30
A Critical Overview Of Biological Functions written by Justin Garson and has been published by Springer this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2016-03-30 with Philosophy categories.
This book is a critical survey of and guidebook to the literature on biological functions. It ties in with current debates and developments, and at the same time, it looks back on the state of discourse in naturalized teleology prior to the 1970s. It also presents three significant new proposals. First, it describes the generalized selected effects theory, which is one version of the selected effects theory, maintaining that the function of a trait consists in the activity that led to its differential persistence or reproduction in a population, and not merely its differential reproduction. Secondly, it advances “within-discipline pluralism” (as opposed to between-discipline pluralism) a new form of function pluralism, which emphasizes the coexistence of function concepts within diverse biological sub-disciplines. Lastly, it provides a critical assessment of recent alternatives to the selected effects theory of function, namely, the weak etiological theory and the systems-theoretic theory. The book argues that, to the extent that functions purport to offer causal explanations for the existence of a trait, there are no viable alternatives to the selected effects view. The debate about biological functions is still as relevant and important to biology and philosophy as it ever was. Recent controversies surrounding the ENCODE Project Consortium in genetics, the nature of psychiatric classification, and the value of ecological restoration, all point to the continuing relevance to biology of philosophical discussion about the nature of functions. In philosophy, ongoing debates about the nature of biological information, intentionality, health and disease, mechanism, and even biological trait classification, are closely related to debates about biological functions.
The Biological Mind
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Author : Justin Garson
language : en
Publisher: Routledge
Release Date : 2022-03-16
The Biological Mind written by Justin Garson and has been published by Routledge this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2022-03-16 with Philosophy categories.
Thoroughly revised and updated, including three new chapters on race, sex and human nature Second edition is split into thirteen more manageable chapters (instead of eight long ones in the first edition), matching course syllabi more effectively and making it easier for students and teachers to use the book Covers the essential topics, such as selection, adaptation, modularity, genes and the environment, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and free will and determinism Additional textbook features include: chapter summaries, annotated further reading and glossary.
Teleosemantics
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Author : Graham Macdonald
language : en
Publisher: Clarendon Press
Release Date : 2006-09-28
Teleosemantics written by Graham Macdonald and has been published by Clarendon Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2006-09-28 with Language Arts & Disciplines categories.
Teleosemantics seeks to explain meaning and other intentional phenomena in terms of their function in the life of the species. This volume of new essays from an impressive line-up of well-known contributors offers a valuable summary of the current state of the teleosemantics debate.
The Quest For Human Nature
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Author : Marco J. Nathan
language : en
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Release Date : 2024
The Quest For Human Nature written by Marco J. Nathan and has been published by Oxford University Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2024 with Philosophy categories.
Over the last few decades, biology, psychology, anthropology, and cognate fields have substantially enriched traditional philosophical theories about who we are and where we come from. Nevertheless, the hallowed topic of human nature remains frustratingly elusive. Why have we not been able to crack the mystery? Marco J. Nathan provides an overview and explanation of recent research and argues that human nature is a core scientific concept that is not susceptible to an explanation, scientific or otherwise. He traces the scientific history of human nature to conclude that, as an epistemological indicator, science cannot adequately grasp human nature without dissolving it in the process
Biological Autonomy
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Author : Alvaro Moreno
language : en
Publisher: Springer
Release Date : 2015-05-04
Biological Autonomy written by Alvaro Moreno and has been published by Springer this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2015-05-04 with Philosophy categories.
Since Darwin, Biology has been framed on the idea of evolution by natural selection, which has profoundly influenced the scientific and philosophical comprehension of biological phenomena and of our place in Nature. This book argues that contemporary biology should progress towards and revolve around an even more fundamental idea, that of autonomy. Biological autonomy describes living organisms as organised systems, which are able to self-produce and self-maintain as integrated entities, to establish their own goals and norms, and to promote the conditions of their existence through their interactions with the environment. Topics covered in this book include organisation and biological emergence, organisms, agency, levels of autonomy, cognition, and a look at the historical dimension of autonomy. The current development of scientific investigations on autonomous organisation calls for a theoretical and philosophical analysis. This can contribute to the elaboration of an original understanding of life - including human life - on Earth, opening new perspectives and enabling fecund interactions with other existing theories and approaches. This book takes up the challenge.
Biology For Dummies
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Author : Rene Fester Kratz
language : en
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2010-05-18
Biology For Dummies written by Rene Fester Kratz and has been published by John Wiley & Sons this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2010-05-18 with Science categories.
An updated edition of the ultimate guide to understanding biology Ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can't help wondering how things work — starting with our own bodies. Wouldn't it be great to have a single source of quick answers to all our questions about how living things work? Now there is. From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, Biology For Dummies, 2nd Edition answers all your questions about how living things work. Written in plain English and packed with dozens of illustrations, quick-reference Cheat Sheets, and helpful tables and diagrams, it cuts right to the chase with fast-paced, easy-to-absorb explanations of the life processes common to all organisms. More than 20% new and updated content, including a substantial overhaul to the organization of topics to make it a friendly classroom supplement Coverage of the most recent developments and discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology Includes practical, up-to-date examples Whether you're currently enrolled in a biology class or just want to know more about this fascinating and ever-evolving field of study, this engaging guide will give you a grip on complex biology concepts and unlock the mysteries of how life works in no time.
The Physical Signature Of Computation
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Author : Neal G. Anderson
language : en
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Release Date : 2024-07-09
The Physical Signature Of Computation written by Neal G. Anderson and has been published by Oxford University Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2024-07-09 with Philosophy categories.
In The Physical Signature of Computation, Neal Anderson and Gualtiero Piccinini articulate and defend the robust mapping account--the most systematic, rigorous, and comprehensive account of computational implementation to date. Drawing in part from recent results in physical information theory, they argue that mapping accounts of implementation can be made adequate by incorporating appropriate physical constraints. According to the robust mapping account, the key constraint on mappings from physical to computational states--the key for establishing that a computation is physically implemented--is physical-computational equivalence: evolving physical states bear neither more nor less information about the evolving computation than do the computational states they map onto. When this highly nontrivial constraint is satisfied, among others that are spelled out as part of the account, a physical system can be said to implement a computation in a robust sense, which means that the system bears the physical signature of the computation. Anderson and Piccinini apply their robust mapping account to important questions in physical foundations of computation and cognitive science, including the alleged indeterminacy of computation, pancomputationalism, and the computational theory of mind. They show that physical computation is determinate, nontrivial versions of pancomputationalism fail, and cognition involves computation only insofar as neurocognitive systems bear the physical signature of specific computations. They also argue that both consciousness and physics outstrip computation.
Exploring The Biological Contributions To Human Health
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Author : Institute of Medicine
language : en
Publisher: National Academies Press
Release Date : 2001-07-02
Exploring The Biological Contributions To Human Health written by Institute of Medicine and has been published by National Academies Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2001-07-02 with Medical categories.
It's obvious why only men develop prostate cancer and why only women get ovarian cancer. But it is not obvious why women are more likely to recover language ability after a stroke than men or why women are more apt to develop autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Sex differences in health throughout the lifespan have been documented. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health begins to snap the pieces of the puzzle into place so that this knowledge can be used to improve health for both sexes. From behavior and cognition to metabolism and response to chemicals and infectious organisms, this book explores the health impact of sex (being male or female, according to reproductive organs and chromosomes) and gender (one's sense of self as male or female in society). Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health discusses basic biochemical differences in the cells of males and females and health variability between the sexes from conception throughout life. The book identifies key research needs and opportunities and addresses barriers to research. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health will be important to health policy makers, basic, applied, and clinical researchers, educators, providers, and journalists-while being very accessible to interested lay readers.