Biology and Epistemology

This set of original essays by some of the best names in philosophy of science explores a range of diverse issues in the intersection of biology and epistemology.

Introduction Richard Creath and Jane Maienschein; 1. Darwin and the philosophers: epistemological factors in the development and reception of the theory of the Origin of Species Michael Ruse; 2. Knowing about life: Darwin and his theory of natural selection Jon Hodge; 3. Why did Darwin fail? The role of John Stuart Mill David L. Hull; 4. The epistemology of historical interpretation: progressivity and recapitulation in Darwin's Theory Robert J. Richards; 5. Down the Primrose Path: competing epistemologies in early twentieth-century biology David Magnus; 6. Competing epistemologies and developmental biology Jane Maienschein; 7. From imaging to believing: epistemic issues in generating biological data William Bechtel; 8. The logic of discovery: in the experimental life sciences Frederic L. Holmes; 9. What do population geneticists know and how do they know it? R. C. Lewontin; 10. Experimentation, realism, and the historical character of science Marga Vicedo; 11. Making sense of life: explanation in developmental biology Evelyn Fox Keller; 12. Toward an epistemology for biological pluralism Helen E. Longino; 13. Biology and epistemology: emerging themes Kenneth F. Schaffner.