Philosophical Perspectives on the Engineering Approach in Biology: Living Machines? (History and Philosophy of Biology)

Synopsis

Philosophical Perspectives on the Engineering Approach in Biology provides a philosophical examination of what has been called the most powerful metaphor in biology: The machine metaphor. The chapters collected in this volume discuss the idea that living systems can be understood through the lens of engineering methods and machine metaphors from both historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives. In their contributions the authors examine questions about scientific explanation and methodology, the interrelationship between science and engineering, and the impact that the use of engineering metaphors in science may have for bioethics and science communication, such as the worry that its wide application reinforces public misconceptions of the nature of new biotechnology and biological life. The book also contains an introduction that describes the rise of the machine analogy and the many ways in which it plays a central role in fundamental debates about e.g. design, adaptation, and reductionism in the philosophy of biology.　 The book will be useful as a core reading for professionals as well as graduate and undergraduate students in courses of philosophy of science and for life scientists taking courses in philosophy of science and bioethics.

Copyright:

2020

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9781351212229

Related ISBNs:

9781351212243, 9780815380788, 9780815380788, 9780367491468, 9780367491468

Publisher:

Taylor and Francis

Date of Addition:

07/23/20

Copyrighted By:

selection and editorial matter, Sune Holm and Maria Serban

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Social Studies, Sociology

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.

Edited by:

Sune Holm

Edited by:

Maria Serban