Thinking about Life: The history and philosophy of biology and other sciences [Hardcover]

Our previous book, About Life, concerned modern biology. We used our present-day understanding of cells to define the living state, providing a basis for exploring several general-interest topics: the origin of life, extraterrestrial life, intelligence, and the possibility that humans are unique. The ideas we proposed in About Life were intended as starting-points for debate  we did not claim them as truth  but the information on which they were based is currently accepted as scientific fact. What does that mean? What is scientific fact and why is it accepted? What is science  and is biology like other sciences such as physics (except in subject m- ter)? The book you are now reading investigates these questions  and some related ones. Like About Life, it may particularly interest a reader who wishes to change career to biology and its related subdisciplines. In line with a recommendation by the British Association for the Advancement of Science  that the public should be given fuller information about the nature of science  we present the concepts underpinning biology and a survey of its historical and philosophical basis.What is Science?.- Culture, Technology and Knowledge.- Classical Roots.- Mediaeval Views of the World.- The Scientific Revolution.- The Scientific Revolution in Biology.- Aristotle's Biology.- How Different Are Organisms from Inanimate Objects?.- Cell Theory and Experimental Physiology: New Ideas in a Changing Society.- Embryos and Entelechy.- Spontaneous Generation.- The Evolution of Darwinism.- The Great Heredity Debate.- Evolutionary Theory Attains Maturity.- The Problem of Purpose.- The Scientific Status of Biology.