Name: What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter By Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)
SKU: 9781108472593
Price: 124.59 USD
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What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter Summary

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter by Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

The biological functions debate is a perennial topic in the philosophy of science. In the first full-length account of the nature and importance of biological functions for many years, Justin Garson presents an innovative new theory, the 'generalized selected effects theory of function', which seamlessly integrates evolutionary and developmental perspectives on biological functions. He develops the implications of the theory for contemporary debates in the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of medicine and psychiatry, the philosophy of biology, and biology itself, addressing issues ranging from the nature of mental representation to our understanding of the function of the human genome. Clear, jargon-free, and engagingly written, with accessible examples and explanatory diagrams to illustrate the discussion, his book will be highly valuable for readers across philosophical and scientific disciplines.

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter Reviews

'Biological functions are much discussed but little understood. Justin Garson appeals to the explanatory depth of functional explanations to develop a powerful general theory of functions. This book will serve as a reference point for future debate.' David Papineau, King's College London
'Garson does a superb job of explaining just how central a philosophical understanding of functions is to a wide array of discussions in philosophy and science. These discussions include how to count junk DNA in the ENCODE project, how to classify traits and individuate mechanisms, how different kinds and levels of biological explanations relate to each other, the nature of health and disease, the nature of mental disorder, and even the fundamental basis of thought itself. In addition to being an excellent introduction to these issues, this book gives us a fresh, lively and comprehensive presentation of Garson's distinctive contributions.' Karen Neander, Duke University, North Carolina
'[In] What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter, Justin Garson formulates the major philosophical issues that a relevant theory of function should solve as three main puzzles, namely (1) the function/accident distinction, (2) dysfunction, and (3) the etiological explanatory value of function.' Etienne Roux, Metascience

About Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

Justin Garson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hunter College, City University of New York. He is the author of The Biological Mind: A Philosophical Introduction (2014) and A Critical Overview of Biological Functions (2016).

Introduction; Part I. Background: 1. The strangeness of functions; 2. Function and selection; 3. Feedback and functions; Part II. Theory: 4. An explosion of selection processes; 5. Selection and construction; 6. A generalized selected effects theory of function; 7. Proper functions are proximal functions; 8. When functions do wrong; Part III. Applications: 9. Function pluralism; 10. What are mechanisms?; 11. What are mental disorders?; 12. A new kind of teleosemantics; A programmatic epilogue.

Additional information

Sku

NPB9781108472593

ISBN 13

9781108472593

ISBN 10

1108472591

Title

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter by Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

Author

Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

Condition

New

Binding type

Hardback

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Year published

2019-01-10

Number of pages

246

Prizes

N/A

Cover note

Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.

Note

This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter by Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

Summary

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter Summary

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter by Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter Reviews

About Justin Garson (Hunter College, City University of New York)

Table of Contents

Additional information

Customer Reviews - What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter