Philosophy of Biology and Evolution: Debates and Perspectives

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The chapter explores the relationship between philosophy and biology, with a focus on the philosophy of biology and its emergence as a sub-discipline intertwined with evolution. It delves into the significance of natural selection in connecting modern biological science with traditional philosophical ideas, drawing parallels to the philosophy of physics. The discussion also highlights debates within evolutionary biology regarding the units of selection, theories of individual versus group selection, and the complexity of altruistic behavior in evolution.

Just like with physics, in biology it is perfectly possible to do most respectable work without thinking much about philosophy, but there are unmistakably foundational questions where philosophy becomes crucial. When do we say that a collection of matter (or bits) is alive? When does it become an agent, capable of making decisions? What are the origins of morality and altruistic behavior? We talk with one of the world's leading experts, Samir Okasha, about the biggest issues in modern philosophy of biology.

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Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/01/281-samir-okasha-on-the-philosophy-of-agency-and-evolution/

Samir Okasha received his D.Phil. in Philosophy from the University of Oxford. He is currently Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol. He is a winner of the Lakatos Award for his book Evolution and the Levels of Selection, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.

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