The Epistemology of Development, Evolution, and Genetics

The essays in this collection examine developments in three fundamental biological disciplines—embryology, evolutionary biology, and genetics—in conflict with each other for much of the twentieth century. They consider key methodological problems and the difficulty of overcoming them. Richard Burian interweaves historical appreciation of the settings within which scientists work, substantial knowledge of the biological problems at stake and the methodological and philosophical issues faced in integrating biological knowledge drawn from disparate sources.

These essays examine the developments in three fundamental biological disciplines - embryology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.

Richard M. Burian is Professor of Philosophy and Science Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.