Creatures of Accident: The Rise of the Animal Kingdom
Arthur, Wallace
ISBN 10: 0809043211 ISBN 13: 9780809043217
Published by Hill and Wang (edition First Edition), 2006
Used
Hardcover
From
BooksRun, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since 2 February 2016
This specific item is no longer available.
About this Item
Description:
With dust jacket. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting. Seller Inventory # 0809043211-8-1-29
Synopsis:
The most important aspect of evolution, from a philosophical viewpoint, is the rise of complex, advanced creatures from simple, primitive ones. This “vertical” dimension of evolution has been downplayed in both the specialist and popular literature on evolution, in large part because it was in the past associated with unsavory political views. The avoidance of evolution’s vertical dimension has, however, left evolutionary biology open to the perception, from outside, that it deals merely with the diversification of rather similar creatures, all at the same level of “advancedness” from a common ancestor—for example, the classic case studies of finches with different beaks or moths of different colors.
The latest incarnation of creationism, dubbed intelligent design (or ID), has taken advantage of this situation. It portrays an evolutionary process that is constantly guided—especially in its upward direction—by the hand of an unseen Creator, who is able to ensure that it ends up producing humans. Creatures of Accident attacks the antiscience ID worldview, mainly by building a persuasive picture of how “unaided” evolution produces advanced creatures from simple ones by an essentially accidental process. Having built this picture, in the final chapter the book reflects on its religious implications.
The latest incarnation of creationism, dubbed intelligent design (or ID), has taken advantage of this situation. It portrays an evolutionary process that is constantly guided—especially in its upward direction—by the hand of an unseen Creator, who is able to ensure that it ends up producing humans. Creatures of Accident attacks the antiscience ID worldview, mainly by building a persuasive picture of how “unaided” evolution produces advanced creatures from simple ones by an essentially accidental process. Having built this picture, in the final chapter the book reflects on its religious implications.
About the Authors:
Wallace Arthur is a professor of zoology at the National University of Ireland,
Galway. The author of seven previous books, he also serves as European editor of the journal Evolution and Development.
Galway. The author of seven previous books, he also serves as European editor of the journal Evolution and Development.
Wallace Arthur is a professor of zoology at the National University of Ireland,
Galway. The author of seven previous books, he also serves as European editor of the journalEvolution and Development.
Galway. The author of seven previous books, he also serves as European editor of the journalEvolution and Development.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Bibliographic Details
Title: Creatures of Accident: The Rise of the ...
Publisher: Hill and Wang (edition First Edition)
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
Edition: First Edition.