Category Archives: Book

My books, or books I have read or am discussing.

Book proposal call

I’m on the editorial board of the Species and Systematics series at the University of California Press, and so if any of you have a proposal for that series, on any topic relating to these two areas that is academic … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Species and systematics

Yet another “post-Darwinism”

Over the years there have been many books that purport to “radically revise” or “supplant” Darwinian evolutionary biology; they come with predictable regularity. Usually they are of three kinds: something is wrong with natural selection, something is wrong with inheritance, … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Epistemology, Evolution, Philosophy, Science

“Species” an ALA Choice Book

I take what plaudits I can: Choice, from The American Library Association, has listed my book Species: A History of the Idea as an “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2010, a list they release each each January. Their criteria are: overall … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, History, Species concept

A paperback of Species: A History

My not-inconsiderable ego has expanded several sizes upon the news from University of California Press that my book Species: A History of the Idea (see at right or on the My Books page) is to become a paperback. I hope … Continue reading

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Filed under Administrative, Book, History, Species and systematics, Species concept

A review of my species book

David Morrison, editor at Systematic Biology, has given me a very nice and well informed and researched review for my book Species: A history of the idea. He even likes the cover. I have had some good and mixed reviews, … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Species concept

Scientist’s Operating Manual – Evidence; gathering, measuring, analysing

In this chapter we will look at how science gathers information about the world, and what it does with it. [Contributors should write their bits in the comments, and I will collate them below the fold or in new posts. … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Epistemology, Philosophy, Science

Scientist’s Operating Manual – Introduction

If you open any number of science textbooks, introductions to the philosophy of science, or books that attack pseudoscience, you will find a discussion of What The Scientific Method Is. For it is assumed from the start that either there … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Epistemology, Science

Rieppel reviews my book

… at Metascience here. The book, of course, is my Species: A history of the idea. The concluding paragraph is this: Does Wilkins deliver on his promise? Does the ‘essentialism story’ capture the essence of the centuries old debate about … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, History, Species concept

Stephen Hawking and the creation of the universe

I should begin by saying that I haven’t read Hawking’s book with Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, and I probably won’t. But the way it is being hyped in the media, social and mainstream, suggests that what he is claiming, … Continue reading

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Filed under Book, Epistemology, General Science, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Religion, Science

A book review: Merchants of Doubt

This guest review is courtesy of Richard Harter, whose own website is here.

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Filed under Book, Guest post, Journalism