Heams T., Huneman P., Lecointre G., Silberstein M. (eds.) Handbook of Evolutionary Thinking in the Sciences

Springer Netherlands, 2015. — 910 p. — ISBN: 9401790132, 9789401790130The Darwinian theory of evolution is itself evolving and this book presents the details of the core of modern Darwinism and its latest developmental directions. The authors present current scientific work addressing theoretical problems and challenges in four sections, beginning with the concepts of evolution theory, its processes of variation, heredity, selection, adaptation and function, and its patterns of character, species, descent and life.
The second part of this book scrutinizes Darwinism in the philosophy of science and its usefulness in understanding ecosystems, whilst the third section deals with its application in disciplines beyond the biological sciences, including evolutionary psychology and evolutionary economics, Darwinian morality and phylolinguistics. The final section addresses anti-Darwinism, the creationist view and issues around teaching evolution in secondary schools.
The reader learns how current experimental biology is opening important perspectives on the sources of variation, and thus of the very power of natural selection. This work examines numerous examples of the extension of the principle of natural selection and provides the opportunity to critically reflect on a rich theory, on the methodological rigour that presides in its extensions and exportations, and on the necessity to measure its advantages and also its limits.
Scholars interested in modern Darwinism and scientific research, its concepts, research programs and controversies will find this book an excellent read, and those considering how Darwinism might evolve, how it can apply to the human sciences and other disciplines beyond its origins will find it particularly valuable.
Originally produced in French (Les Mondes Darwiniens), the scope and usefulness of the book have led to the production of this English text, to reach a wider audience.Variation.
Heredity.
Selection.
Adaptation.
Function.
Character.
Species.
Descent (Filiation).
Life.Pages
Formalising Evolutionary Theory
Continuities and Discontinuities of Variation Mechanisms in On the Origin of Species
Evolutionary Developmental Biology: Philosophical Issues
Phenotypic Plasticity: From Microevolution to Macroevolution.
Darwinism and Molecular Biology.
Systems Biology and Evolutionary Biology.
The (In)Determinism of Biological Evolution: Where Does the Stochastic Character of Evolutionary Theory Come From?
Darwin and Phylogenetics: Past and Present
Telling the Story of Life: On the Use of Narrative
Synthetic Biology and Darwinism
Evolutionary Developmental Biology and Its Contribution to a New Synthetic Theory
Behavior and Evolution: Crossed Glances
Sex and Evolution
Biological Costs of a Small Stature for Homo sapiens Females: New Perspectives on Stature Sexual Dimorphism
Ecology and Evolution: Toward a Multi-Hierarchical Connection
The Ecological Niche: History and Recent Controversies
Darwin, Evolution, and Medicine: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Evolutionary Algorithms
Artificial Evolution of Autonomous Robots and Virtual Creatures
Evolutionary Psychology: Issues, Results, Debates
Evolutionary Psychology, Adaptation and Design
Externalist Evolutionary Cognitive Science
Human Language: An Evolutionary Anomaly
Evolution, Society, and Ethics: Social Darwinism Versus Evolutionary Ethics
Darwinian Morality, Moral Darwinism
Origins and Evolution of Religion from a Darwinian Point of View: Synthesis of Different Theories
Current Darwinism in Social Science
Evolutionary Economics: A Specific Form of Evolution?
Phylo-linguistics: Enacting Darwin’s Linguistic Image
Biological Functions and Semantic Contents: The Teleosemantics.
Evolutionism(s) and Creationism(s)
Evolutionary Theory in Secondary Schools: Some Teaching Issues