The End of Final Causes in Biology

Description

This book provides a straightforward introduction to teleology in biology, the work it did and the work it can do. Informed by history and philosophy, it focuses on scientific concerns. Seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth century biologists proposed a menagerie of biological “actors” to explain power without appealing to Aristotelian vegetable souls and final causes. Three constraints on teleology narrowed the field, selecting among the various actors as they mutated and recombined. Methodological naturalism, local adaptation, and blind chance each represent a significant philosophical advance in biology. Kant, Darwin, and the Modern Synthesis provided a new teleology, grounded in natural selection, an etiological recursion of form and function, and the details of carbon chemistry on Earth. They naturalized teleology, but they also finalized nature, shifting conceptions about the world and science. Understanding these links – historical, philosophical, and theoretical – sets the stage for new work moving forward. Preface Contents Chapter 1: An End to Ends? Biological Actors Function and Teleology Form and Agents Power The Argument The Context of the Argument Biological Context Philosophical Context Historical Context Naturalized Teleology References Chapter 2: What Makes Life Life-Like? The Dynamic Continuity of Living Things Continuity Through Change The Parmenidean Thread Material Cause: Composition Efficient Cause: Power Formal Cause: Form Final Cause: Function Other Souls References Chapter 3: Vegetable Souls in the Middle Ages The Human Perspective The Nature of Life Physis—Natura—Nature Psyche/Pneuma—Anima/Spiritus—Soul/Breath Material Souls The Ladder of Nature Physical and Spiritual Life Metabolism and Consciousness Things Fall Apart References Chapter 4: Mechanical Organisms in the Enlightenment The Effects of Natural Science Cartesian Biology Baconian Biology Kantian Biology Organism Versus Mechanism The Effects of Evolution “Evolution” and Biology Darwinian Biology References Chapter 5: Who “Acts” in Biology? Biological Agents from Souls to Genes Biological Actor Concepts Proliferate Preformed Embryos Vital Particles Vital Forms Vital Forces References Chapter 6: Genes: The New Biological Agent Biology in Historical Perspective Genes Genes as Form Genes as Agents Biological Interest Genetic Interest A New Teleology References Chapter 7: Can Teleology Be Saved? Three Constraints on Bioteleology Muddled “Teleology” Categories of Teleology Methodological Naturalism Missing the Point Creationism Versus Evolution Local Adaptation The Strong Anthropic Principle Is Progress Possible? Blind Chance References Chapter 8: Genes and Natural Selection Finalize Nature Etiological Recursion Physical Cycling Metabolic Power Genetic Power Organismal Power Systemic Power Environmental Action Methodological Naturalism Local Adaptation Blindness Completeness Etiological Recursion Versus Physical Cycle References Author Index Subject Index