Author Description
Human Success: Evolutionary Origins and Ethical Implications examines human success from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, with contributions from leading paleobiologists, anthropologists, geologists, philosophers of science, and ethicists. It considers how the human species grew in success-linked metrics, such as population size and geographical range, and how it came to dominate ecological systems across the globe. It probes whether the consequences of that dominance, such as human-driven climate change and the destruction of biodiversity, mandate a rethinking of the meaning of human success. The essays in this book urge us to reflect on what has led to our apparent evolutionary successand, most importantly, what this success implies for the future of our species.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the biological, historical, and ethical dimensions of human success to determine whether our species' dominance over ecological systems necessitates a redefinition of the term. The editors, Grant Ramsey and Hugh Desmond, curate a multidisciplinary collection of essays from experts in paleobiology, anthropology, geology, and ethics. The text synthesizes empirical data regarding population growth and geographical expansion with philosophical inquiry into the long-term consequences of human-driven environmental change.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of evolutionary metrics including population density and global range expansion
- Philosophical frameworks for evaluating ecological dominance and species success
- Interdisciplinary critiques of human-driven climate change and biodiversity loss
- Historical perspectives on the trajectory of the human species
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide specific policy prescriptions or technological solutions for climate mitigation
- It avoids narrow focus on single-discipline biological data, prioritizing a broader philosophical synthesis
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this collection as a rigorous interdisciplinary resource for those examining the intersection of evolutionary biology and environmental ethics. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is well-suited for scholars and students of the philosophy of science.
Page Count:
341
Publication Date:
2023-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190096187
ISBN-13:
9780190096182
Philosophy
Science
Evolutionary Biology
Anthropology
Ethics
Philosophy of
Earth Sciences