Author: Mayr, Ernst.
Title: Toward a new philosphy of biology. Observations of an evolutionist.
Description: Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press, 1988 (1st ed.); x+564pp., index, references a end of each chapter, 8vo, grey cloth w. original dustwrapper. V. good copy. ¶ landmark in outlining a unification of evolutionary theory with philosophy of science by the leading contemporary evolutionist. "Mayr guides his readers through the maze of controversies surrounding the viability of Darwinism, the impact of molecular biology on evolutionary theory, gradual evolution versus the theory of punctuated equilibria, and even the probability of extraterrestrial life, from an evolutionist's point of view. [... also questions as:] Is biology a truly autonomous science? Is there an evolutionary basis for human ethics? To what extent does natural selection dictate the course of evolution? What processes explain drastic evolutionary innovations and the diversity of the major life forms? Do we need a new evolutionary synthesis?" (front flap).

Keywords: biologie evolutietheorie wetenschapsfilosofie