This book provides a unique discussion of human evolution from a philosophical viewpoint, looking at the facts and interpretations since Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man. Michael Ruse explores such topics as the nature of scientific theories, the relationships between culture and biology, the problem of progress and the extent to which evolutionary issues pose problems for religious beliefs. He identifies these issues, highlighting the problems for morality in a world governed by natural selection. By taking a philosophical viewpoint, the full ethical and moral dimensions of human evolution are examined. This book engages the reader in a thorough discussion of the issues, appealing to students in philosophy, biology and anthropology.
The Philosophy of Human Evolution
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"...well-written.... The book is also a clear demonstration that the field of philosophy itself has undergone evolutionary changes.... The Philosophy of Human Evolution explores a range of topics that help to illuminate how we might integrate advances in evolutionary biology into our view of the world...
--Christopher J. Wills, University of California, San Diego, BioScience
"...this book should be a good read for those who are acquainted with the scientific issues and can muse over some of the sections.... Recommended..."
--F.S. Szalay, University of New Mexico, CHOICE
--Christopher J. Wills, University of California, San Diego, BioScience
"...this book should be a good read for those who are acquainted with the scientific issues and can muse over some of the sections.... Recommended..."
--F.S. Szalay, University of New Mexico, CHOICE
Book Description
Michael Ruse provides a unique discussion of human evolution from a philosophical viewpoint, exploring such topics as the nature of scientific theories, the relationships between culture and biology, the problem of progress and the extent to which evolutionary issues pose problems for religious beliefs.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book surveys some issues of human evolution, accompanied by interesting thoughts on related issues. It is pleasant to read. But it is not "philosophy" in any serious sense. Certainly, the title "The Philosophy of Human Evolution" is misleading.
The book sometimes claims to rely on "philosophy," such as on the reality of races (page 219) and the concept of sickness (page 238). But these are issues belonging mainly to history of concepts, sociology and social anthropology, on which "philosophy" has little to offer - all the more so as the author does not discuss them in terms of language games or various theories of definitions. And the real philosophic issues raised by evolution are not discussed and in the main not even mentioned.
These issues include, among others: Implications of the theory of evolution for human self-understanding; moral problems posed by increasing human capacities to interfere with its evolution, such as through human enhancement; should humanity try to clone human beings? what about the possibility of creating life out of inorganic materials and its implications for human values, self-images and belief systems?
And, last but most important of all, what are the implications for human values of the emerging capabilities of self-termination supplied by science and technology as a main dimension of human cultural evolution based on the evolution of our brain? The author does refer briefly to some such possibilities (e.g., pages 83, 144) but fails to take them up as a main issue of a philosophy of evolution posed by the possibility that human evolution may have inbuilt tendencies to lead to the end of the human species.
I could add some minor critical comments, such as on the strange claim that "the story of human creation as given in Genesis, ... with the coming of Christianity...was universally accepted for over 1,500 years," which ignores, among others, Chinese civilization and its belief systems. But the main missed opportunity of this book is posing and discussing the real deep philosophic issues posed by human evolution.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The book sometimes claims to rely on "philosophy," such as on the reality of races (page 219) and the concept of sickness (page 238). But these are issues belonging mainly to history of concepts, sociology and social anthropology, on which "philosophy" has little to offer - all the more so as the author does not discuss them in terms of language games or various theories of definitions. And the real philosophic issues raised by evolution are not discussed and in the main not even mentioned.
These issues include, among others: Implications of the theory of evolution for human self-understanding; moral problems posed by increasing human capacities to interfere with its evolution, such as through human enhancement; should humanity try to clone human beings? what about the possibility of creating life out of inorganic materials and its implications for human values, self-images and belief systems?
And, last but most important of all, what are the implications for human values of the emerging capabilities of self-termination supplied by science and technology as a main dimension of human cultural evolution based on the evolution of our brain? The author does refer briefly to some such possibilities (e.g., pages 83, 144) but fails to take them up as a main issue of a philosophy of evolution posed by the possibility that human evolution may have inbuilt tendencies to lead to the end of the human species.
I could add some minor critical comments, such as on the strange claim that "the story of human creation as given in Genesis, ... with the coming of Christianity...was universally accepted for over 1,500 years," which ignores, among others, Chinese civilization and its belief systems. But the main missed opportunity of this book is posing and discussing the real deep philosophic issues posed by human evolution.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
INTERESTING, BUT NOT PHILOSOPHY
3 Aug 2012
By Yehezkel Dror
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This book surveys some issues of human evolution, accompanied by interesting thoughts on related issues. It is pleasant to read. But it is not "philosophy" in any serious sense. Certainly, the title "The Philosophy of Human Evolution" is misleading.
The book sometimes claims to rely on "philosophy," such as on the reality of races (page 219) and the concept of sickness (page 238). But these are issues belonging mainly to history of concepts, sociology and social anthropology, on which "philosophy" has little to offer - all the more so as the author does not discuss them in terms of language games or various theories of definitions. And the real philosophic issues raised by evolution are not discussed and in the main not even mentioned.
These issues include, among others: Implications of the theory of evolution for human self-understanding; moral problems posed by increasing human capacities to interfere with its evolution, such as through human enhancement; should humanity try to clone human beings? what about the possibility of creating life out of inorganic materials and its implications for human values, self-images and belief systems?
And, last but most important of all, what are the implications for human values of the emerging capabilities of self-termination supplied by science and technology as a main dimension of human cultural evolution based on the evolution of our brain? The author does refer briefly to some such possibilities (e.g., pages 83, 144) but fails to take them up as a main issue of a philosophy of evolution posed by the possibility that human evolution may have inbuilt tendencies to lead to the end of the human species.
I could add some minor critical comments, such as on the strange claim that "the story of human creation as given in Genesis, ... with the coming of Christianity...was universally accepted for over 1,500 years," which ignores, among others, Chinese civilization and its belief systems. But the main missed opportunity of this book is posing and discussing the real deep philosophic issues posed by human evolution.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The book sometimes claims to rely on "philosophy," such as on the reality of races (page 219) and the concept of sickness (page 238). But these are issues belonging mainly to history of concepts, sociology and social anthropology, on which "philosophy" has little to offer - all the more so as the author does not discuss them in terms of language games or various theories of definitions. And the real philosophic issues raised by evolution are not discussed and in the main not even mentioned.
These issues include, among others: Implications of the theory of evolution for human self-understanding; moral problems posed by increasing human capacities to interfere with its evolution, such as through human enhancement; should humanity try to clone human beings? what about the possibility of creating life out of inorganic materials and its implications for human values, self-images and belief systems?
And, last but most important of all, what are the implications for human values of the emerging capabilities of self-termination supplied by science and technology as a main dimension of human cultural evolution based on the evolution of our brain? The author does refer briefly to some such possibilities (e.g., pages 83, 144) but fails to take them up as a main issue of a philosophy of evolution posed by the possibility that human evolution may have inbuilt tendencies to lead to the end of the human species.
I could add some minor critical comments, such as on the strange claim that "the story of human creation as given in Genesis, ... with the coming of Christianity...was universally accepted for over 1,500 years," which ignores, among others, Chinese civilization and its belief systems. But the main missed opportunity of this book is posing and discussing the real deep philosophic issues posed by human evolution.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good review of the philosophy of human evolution
4 Dec 2012
By Terry Defoe
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A good read but it can be tough sledding in spots. I have read several books by Michael Ruse and generally find his point of view helpful.
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