Purpose & Desire (eBook)

What Makes Something &quote;Alive&quote; and Why Modern Darwinism Has Failed to Explain It

J. Scott Turner (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2017
352 Seiten
Harpercollins (Verlag)
978-0-06-265158-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Can biology define life? "e;[An] ingenious mixture of science and philosophy. . . . highly thought-provoking."e; -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)In this book a professor, biologist, and physiologist argues that modern Darwinism's materialist and mechanistic biases have led to a scientific dead end, unable to define what life is and only an openness to the qualities of purpose and desire will move the field forward. As Scott Turner contends: "e;To be scientists, we force ourselves into a Hobson's choice on the matter: accept intentionality and purposefulness as real attributes of life, which disqualifies you as a scientist; or become a scientist and dismiss life's distinctive quality from your thinking. I have come to believe that this choice actually stands in the way of our having a fully coherent theory of life."e;Growing research shows that life's most distinctive quality, shared by all living things, is purpose and desire: maintain homeostasis to sustain life. In Purpose and Desire, Turner draws on the work of Claude Bernard, a contemporary of Darwin revered among physiologists as the founder of experimental medicine, to build on Bernard's "e;dangerous idea"e; of vitalism, which seeks to identify what makes "e;life"e; a unique phenomenon of nature. To further its quest to achieve a fuller understanding of life, Turner says, science must move beyond strictly accepted measures that consider only the mechanics of nature. A thoughtful appeal to widen our perspective of biology that is grounded in scientific evidence, Purpose and Desire helps us bridge the ideological evolutionary divide. "e;A must-read for everybody interested in the science of life and evolution . . . one of those rare science books which inquisitive laypeople will equally enjoy. Purpose and Desire will change the way you think of life."e; Washington Book Review"e;[A] beautifully written book, brimming with anecdotes and biological insights . . . will leave readers moved by Turner's deep appreciation of life's exquisiteness, its richness, and diversity . . . a provocative thesis, but one that is a wonderfully rich read, thought-provoking, and highly recommended."e; The Quarterly Review of Biology

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 21.11.2023
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Evolution
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Humanbiologie
• ISBN-10: 0-06-265158-7 / 0062651587
• ISBN-13: 978-0-06-265158-7 / 9780062651587