Books

Books : reviews

Jason Scott Robert.
Emryology, Epigenesis, and Evolution: taking development seriously.
CUP. 2004

Historically, philosophers of biology have tended to sidestep the problem of development by focusing primarily on evolutionary biology and, more recently, on molecular biology and genetics. Quite often, development has been misunderstood as simply, or even primarily, a matter of gene activation and regulation. Nowadays a growing number of philosophers of science are focusing their analyses on the complexities of development; in Embryology, Epigenesis, and Evolution, Jason Scott Robert explores the nature of development against current trends in biological theory and practice and looks at the interrelations between evolution and development (evo-devo), an area of resurgent biological interest.

Clearly written, this book should be of interest to students and professionals in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of biology.