This volume investigates whether the Modern Synthesis, the foundational framework of 20th-century evolutionary biology, remains sufficient to account for recent empirical discoveries in development, inheritance, and adaptation. Editors Philippe Huneman and Denis M. Walsh curate a collection of original essays from both philosophers and biologists to evaluate the current status of evolutionary theory. The text examines how new findings in fields such as epigenetics and developmental biology challenge the traditional gene-centered view of evolution. By synthesizing these diverse perspectives, the authors provide a critical assessment of the prospects for an extended or revised evolutionary synthesis.

Experts identify this collection as a significant contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the structure of evolutionary theory in the 21st century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for researchers and students familiar with evolutionary biology and philosophy of science.