"A major voice in Darwinian scholarship … .Ruse excels. Hiswriting style is clear, calm and non-technical. … This workwould appeal to many non-specialist readers. Instead of preachingto the converted, Ruse appeals to the uncertain reader and showsthe extent (and therefore the limits) of Darwinian thinking ….Ruse has certainly presented a notable work." (Metascience,July 2009) "This volume is written in a very accessible style. It wouldmake an ideal textbook for a seminar on evolutionary biologyattended by both biologists and philosophers." (The QuarterlyReview of Biology, June 2009)
"Ruse a professor of philosophy at Florida State Universityhighlights the philosophical impact of Darwin’s work andlegacy addressing many of the theological and ethical issues andimplications that continue to fuel debate today." (San DiegoUnion Tribune, April 20, 2009)
"Quite usefully and skillfully applied to addressing the vastrole of Darwin's work in evolution as it applies to science,philosophy, and society. The book is … well written andengaging both in style and content. I very much like the author'sapproach in this work because his efforts serve as far more thanjust a recounting of Darwin's life … .I highly recommend thisexcellent account of Darwin and how his life his interests and hisworld all came to help focus a keen intellect on resolving one ofthe prime mysteries of science. This book would serve not onlycollege audiences of science students but also those studyingphilosophy." (Science Books and Films, December 2008)
"Ruse (Florida State) is an outstanding authority on Darwinism,a founder of modern evolutionary biology, and an important playerin the evolution-creationism controversy. Ruse's new book is anauthoritative, readable history of the philosophy of the theory ofevolution as proposed by Darwin. Recommended." (CHOICE,October 2008)
"Currently [Blackwell Great Minds] follows itsoutstanding way with the present edition of Charles Darwin byMichael Ruse … .Ruse is an important figure in theEvolutionary Biology and Evolutionary Thought. With no doubt thebook can be greeted as an outstanding work on the study and readingof Darwin in [an] enriching framework." (Metapsychology)
"Michael Ruse needs no introduction to anyone who has read aboutthe philosophy of biology or the controversies surroundingDarwinism over the past three-and-a-half decades. ... Variousstrands of Ruse's study and thought are brought together here in asingle, updated, moderate-length volume that addresses general,serious-minded readers, as well as students, who wish anintroductory overview of Ruse's understanding of Darwinism."(Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews)
"This is a very good, and a very enjoyable, book. The isconversational, lively and well-informed. Ruse has a real gift forconveying the gist of an idea intelligently and effectively andwith integrity as well as verve."
- Peter Loptson, University of Guelph
"If you want to understand Darwinism and what it implies aboutnature, human nature, knowledge, morality and religion, this bookis an unparalleled introduction and resource."
- Richard A. Richards, University of Alabama
"Michael Ruse is a superstar among scholars interested in Darwinand Darwinism. If you want the big picture from a brilliant,hard-thinking scholar, Ruse is the obvious choice."
- Joseph Cain, University College, London
From the Back Cover
Charles Darwin is irrefutably the architect of modern evolutionarybiology. Yet Darwin’s The Origin of Species is morethan just a biological theory. It is a set of principles thatportend tremendous philosophical impact beyond the limits ofnatural science. Darwin’s theory begs examinationconceptually –to determine how it is structured and how itmakes its claims. And because Darwinian assumptions extend tohumankind, they must also be thoroughly scrutinized for ethical andepistemological implications. Michael Ruse, well-known authority on the history and philosophyof Darwinism, offers here the definitive work on the philosophicalnature and impact of Darwin’s thought. This engaging text isnot just a spring board for theoretical debate, but also a treatisethat tackles head on many of the controversial anti-Darwinsentiments and suppositions asserted by believers of theCreationist movement.
Using clear, non-technical language, Ruse has much to say aboutthe status of evolutionary thought as a genuine theory, thephilosophical implications of Darwinism, and the modernnaturalistic explanations of religion.
About the Author
Michael Ruse is Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University. The author of many books, including The Philosophy of Biology and Taking Darwin Seriously, he is also the founder and editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy. He has appeared on "Quirks and Quarks" and the Discovery Channel.
