The End of Final Causes in Biology

More about the book

Focusing on the evolution of teleology in biology, the book explores historical and philosophical perspectives from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. It examines how early biologists sought to explain life without invoking Aristotelian concepts, introducing constraints like methodological naturalism and local adaptation. The works of Kant, Darwin, and the Modern Synthesis are highlighted for their role in naturalizing teleology through natural selection and carbon chemistry. This interconnection of history, philosophy, and theory lays the groundwork for future research in the field.