Evolution's First Philosopher: John Dewey and the Continuity of NatureState University of New York Press, 2012 M02 1 - 169 pages John Dewey was the first philosopher to recognize that Darwin's thesis about natural selection not only required us to change how we think about ourselves and the life forms around us, but also required a markedly different approach to philosophy. Evolution's First Philosopher shows how Dewey's arguments arose from his recognition of the continuity of natural selection and mindedness, from which he developed his concept of growth. Growth, for Dewey, has no end beyond itself and forms the basis of a naturalized theory of ethics. While other philosophers gave some attention to evolutionary theory, it was Dewey alone who saw that Darwinism provides the basis for a naturalized theory of meaning. This, in turn, portends a new account of knowledge, ethics, and democracy. To clarify evolution's conception of natural selection, Jerome A. Popp looks at brain science and examines the relationship between the genome and experience in terms of the contemporary concepts of preparedness and plasticity. This research shows how comprehensive and penetrating Dewey's thought was in terms of further consequences for the philosophical method entailed by Darwin's thesis. Dewey's foresight is further legitimated when Popp places his work within the context of the current thought of Daniel Dennett. |
Other editions - View all
Evolution's First Philosopher: John Dewey and the Continuity of Nature Jerome A. Popp Limited preview - 2008 |
Evolution's First Philosopher: John Dewey and the Continuity of Nature Jerome A. Popp No preview available - 2007 |
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ability activities analysis appear argument Baldwin effect become behavior better biology brain cells chapter chromosome claim clear cognitive concept conduct consciousness consider continued course created culture Darwin Dawkins democracy Dennett determinism Dewey Dewey’s direction discussion environment ethics evolution evolutionary example existence experience explain expression fact freedom further genes genetic genome geometry give given growth hold human idea important individual innate intellectual intelligence interaction interests kind knowledge language less liberalism living logical matter means memes mind moral natural selection Note one’s organism Origin person philosophic possible present principles problem produce questions reason refers reject responsibility rules seen sense shows situation social society species struggle suggests theory thesis things thought tion turn understand writings