The Rise of Chance in Evolutionary Theory
A Pompous Parade of Arithmetic
- 1st Edition - November 25, 2021
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Author: Charles H. Pence
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 1 2 9 1 - 4
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 1 2 9 2 - 1
The Rise of Chance in Evolutionary Theory: A Pompous Parade of Arithmetic explores a pivotal conceptual moment in the history of evolutionary theory: the development of its exten… Read more
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Request a sales quoteThe Rise of Chance in Evolutionary Theory: A Pompous Parade of Arithmetic explores a pivotal conceptual moment in the history of evolutionary theory: the development of its extensive reliance on a wide array of concepts of chance. It tells the history of a methodological and conceptual development that reshaped our approach to natural selection over a century, ranging from Darwin’s earliest notebooks in the 1830s to the early years of the Modern Synthesis in the 1930s. Far from being a “pompous parade of arithmetic,” as one early critic argued, evolution transformed during this period to make these conceptual and technical tools indispensable.
This book charts the role of chance in evolutionary theory from its beginnings to the earliest days of modern evolutionary theory, making it an ideal resource for evolutionary biologists, historians, philosophers, and researchers in science studies or biological statistics.
- Analyzes contributions of key historical figures and assesses how and why these “foundational” conclusions were reached by original evolutionary biologists, including Darwin, Galton, Pearson, and more
- Describes the journey of the role of chance in evolutionary theory and illuminates our contemporary understanding
- Presents the historical narrative in a non-technical way, focusing on the conceptual structure of evolutionary theory
Researchers and academics in evolution and evolutionary biology, history of science, philosophy of science, and science studies; Advanced undergraduate students in evolution/evolutionary biology, statistics, history, or philosophy
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1: Chance governs the descent of a farthing: Charles Darwin
- Abstract
- Darwin before the Origin
- Chance in the Origin of Species
- Chance after the Origin
- Chance, contained
- References
- Chapter 2: The wonderful form of cosmic order: Francis Galton
- Abstract
- Early sojourns
- Galton’s early theory of heredity
- Toward a novel theory
- Galton’s opus magnum
- Why Galton?
- References
- Chapter 3: The only ultimate test of the theory of natural selection: The early years of biometry
- Abstract
- Pearson before biometry
- The collaboration in earnest: The crab papers
- Developing a controversy: Weldon and Bateson
- Natural selection without (and then with) adaptation
- A settled research program
- References
- Chapter 4: Here is the true gospel: Biometry after Mendelism
- Abstract
- New ports in new storms
- From Mendel to inheritance
- Of elements and chromosomes
- Taking stock
- Whither biometry?
- References
- Chapter 5: Reconciling the biometrical conclusions: Evolution from 1906 to 1918
- Abstract
- Where not to look
- Statistics without a statistical theory of inheritance
- A mathematical theory of inheritance without statistics: The American school
- The speed of selection: R. C. Punnett
- Statistical inheritance in populations without selection
- The exception to the rule: George Udny Yule
- The view from the textbooks
- References
- Chapter 6: What natural selection must be doing: R. A. Fisher’s early synthesis
- Abstract
- Fisher’s sources
- The early years
- Interlude: Fisher at Rothamsted
- The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection
- Indeterminism, creativity, and physics in evolution: Fisher’s philosophy of science
- References
- Chapter 7: Conclusions, historiographical and philosophical
- Abstract
- A quick look back
- A comparative interlude: Gayon & Depew and Weber
- Looking outward
- References
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: November 25, 2021
- No. of pages (Paperback): 190
- No. of pages (eBook): 190
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780323912914
- eBook ISBN: 9780323912921
CP
Charles H. Pence
Charles H. Pence is Chargé de cours (Assistant Professor) at the Institut supérieur de philosophie, and director of the Center for the Philosophy of Science and Society (CEFISES) at the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. Previously, he was Assistant Professor and Director of the LSU Ethics Institute at Louisiana State University. He is the author of 2 books and over 20 articles and book chapters on the philosophy and history of evolutionary theory. His work centers on the integrated philosophy and history of biology, with a particular focus on the introduction and contemporary use of concepts of chance and methods of statistics in evolutionary theory.
Affiliations and expertise
Chargé de cours, Institut supérieur de philosophie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumRead The Rise of Chance in Evolutionary Theory on ScienceDirect