The Evolution of Agency and Other Essays [Paperback]

A leading philosopher of biology presents a collection of essays on biological evolution.This book presents a collection of linked essays written by one of the leading philosophers of biology, Kim Sterelny, on the topic of biological evolution.The first half of the book explores most of the main theoretical controversies about evolution and selection, while the second half of the book applies some of these ideas in considering cognitive evolution. These essays, some never before published, form a coherent whole that defends not jut an overall conception of evolution, but also a distinctive take on cognitive evolution.This book presents a collection of linked essays written by one of the leading philosophers of biology, Kim Sterelny, on the topic of biological evolution.The first half of the book explores most of the main theoretical controversies about evolution and selection, while the second half of the book applies some of these ideas in considering cognitive evolution. These essays, some never before published, form a coherent whole that defends not jut an overall conception of evolution, but also a distinctive take on cognitive evolution.This book presents a collection of linked essays written by one of the leading philosophers of biology, Kim Sterelny, on the topic of biological evolution. The first half of the book explores most of the main theoretical controversies about evolution and selection, while the second half applies some of these ideas in considering cognitive evolution. These essays, some never before published, form a coherent whole that defends not just an overall conception of evolution, but also a distinctive take on cognitive evolution.Part I. Overview: 1. Evolution and agency: a user's guide; Part II. Replication and Interaction: 2. Return of the gene (with Philip Kitcher); 3. The gxtended replicator (with Kelly Smith and Mike Dickison); 4. The return of the group; Part III. Evolution and Macroevolution: 5. Punctuated equilibrium and macroel