Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Darwin's Argument by Analogy
  • Cited by 12
      • Show more authors
      • You may already have access via personal or institutional login
    • Select format
    • Publisher:
      Cambridge University Press
      Publication date:
      October 2021
      November 2021
      ISBN:
      9781108769518
      9781108477284
      9781108708524
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769518
      Dimensions:
      (229 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.53kg, 260 Pages
      Dimensions:
      (229 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.39kg, 259 Pages
      • Subjects:
      History of Science, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy, General Science
    You may already have access via personal or institutional login
    • Selected: Digital
    Add to cart View cart Buy from Cambridge.org
    Subjects:
    History of Science, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy, General Science
    Information

    Book description

    In On the Origin of Species (1859), Charles Darwin put forward his theory of natural selection. Conventionally, Darwin's argument for this theory has been understood as based on an analogy with artificial selection. But there has been no consensus on how, exactly, this analogical argument is supposed to work – and some suspicion too that analogical arguments on the whole are embarrassingly weak. Drawing on new insights into the history of analogical argumentation from the ancient Greeks onward, as well as on in-depth studies of Darwin's public and private writings, this book offers an original perspective on Darwin's argument, restoring to view the intellectual traditions which Darwin took for granted in arguing as he did. From this perspective come new appreciations not only of Darwin's argument but of the metaphors based on it, the range of wider traditions the argument touched upon, and its legacies for science after the Origin.

    Reviews

    ‘Darwin's comparison between natural and artificial selection is not ‘just a metaphor.' It exemplifies a figure of argumentation that goes back to ancient Greek mathematics: proportional analogy. The implications of this fact, spelled out by the distinguished co-authors of Darwin's Argument by Analogy, are sure to change Darwin studies, both historical and philosophical, for good.'

    David J. Depew - University of Iowa

    ‘… an event in Darwin scholarship …’

    David Depew Source: Metascience

    ‘This original, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book examines one of the most debated arguments in the history of biology … the book is an exemplary work of history and philosophy of science.’

    S. Andrew Inkpen Source: Metascience

    ‘… best explains Darwin’s overall argument strategy in the Origin, but they also contend that it provides insight into 'the broader historiographical, philosophical, and socio-economic themes and issues' associated with Darwin and his research.'

    Andrea Sullivan-Clarke Source: Metascience

    Refine List

    Actions for selected content:

    Select all | Deselect all
    • View selected items
    • Export citations
    • Download PDF (zip)
    • Save to Kindle
    • Save to Dropbox
    • Save to Google Drive

    Save Search

    You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

    Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
    Cancel
    ×

    Contents

    Contents
    • Introduction
      pp 1-22
        • You have access
      • PDF
      • HTML
      • Export citation
    • Chapter 1 - Analogy in Classical Greece
      pp 23-50
        • You have access
      • PDF
      • HTML
      • Export citation
    References

    Metrics

    Altmetric attention score

    Full text views

    Total number of HTML views: 0
    Total number of PDF views: 0 *
    Loading metrics...

    Book summary page views

    Total views: 0 *
    Loading metrics...

    * Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

    Usage data cannot currently be displayed.

    Accessibility standard: Unknown

    Why this information is here

    This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

    Accessibility Information

    Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.