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Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed the Way We Think

AUTHOR Grafen, Alan; Grafen, Alan; Grafen, Alan et al.
PUBLISHER Oxford University Press (UK) (05/17/2007)
PRODUCT TYPE Paperback (Paperback)

Description
With the publication of the international bestseller The Selfish Gene some thirty years ago, Richard Dawkins powerfully captured a newly emerging way of understanding evolution--a gene's eye view. Dawkins went on to publish five more bestselling books, including The Blind Watchmaker and Unweaving the Rainbow. He is one of the most high profile public intellectuals today and any attempt to understand the scientific view of the world must grapple with his ideas.
Now, in this exciting collection of original essays, some of the world's leading thinkers offer their take on how Dawkins has changed the way we think. Readers will find stimulating pieces by Daniel Dennett, the renowned philosopher of mind and author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea; Steven Pinker, the brilliant Harvard linguist who wrote The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate; Matt Ridley, author of the bestselling Genome; and James Watson, who with Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, arguably the greatest scientific discovery of the last century. Dawkins' widely admired literary style forms the subject of several pieces, including one from novelist Philip Pullman (author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy). As one of the world's best known rationalists, Dawkins' stance on religion is another theme in this collection, explored by Simon Blackburn, Michael Ruse, Michael Shermer, and the Bishop of Oxford. Numbering twenty in all, these articles are not simply rosy tributes, but explore how Dawkins' ideas have shaped thinking and public debate, and include elements of criticism as well as thoughtful praise.
Richard Dawkins' work has had the rare distinction of generating as much excitement outside the scientific community as within it. This stimulating volume is a superb summation of the depth and range of his influence.
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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9780199214662
ISBN-10: 0199214662
Binding: Paperback or Softback (Trade Paperback (Us))
Content Language: English
More Product Details
Page Count: 298
Carton Quantity: 26
Product Dimensions: 5.24 x 0.79 x 7.69 inches
Weight: 0.53 pound(s)
Feature Codes: Index, Price on Product, Table of Contents
Country of Origin: GB
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Science | Essays
Science | Life Sciences - Evolution
Science | Philosophy & Social Aspects
Dewey Decimal: 591.509
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
annotation
In this exciting collection of original essays, some of the world's leading thinkers offer their take on how Dawkins, author of "The Selfish Gene," has changed the way we think about evolution, religion, and other subjects.
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publisher marketing
With the publication of the international bestseller The Selfish Gene some thirty years ago, Richard Dawkins powerfully captured a newly emerging way of understanding evolution--a gene's eye view. Dawkins went on to publish five more bestselling books, including The Blind Watchmaker and Unweaving the Rainbow. He is one of the most high profile public intellectuals today and any attempt to understand the scientific view of the world must grapple with his ideas.
Now, in this exciting collection of original essays, some of the world's leading thinkers offer their take on how Dawkins has changed the way we think. Readers will find stimulating pieces by Daniel Dennett, the renowned philosopher of mind and author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea; Steven Pinker, the brilliant Harvard linguist who wrote The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate; Matt Ridley, author of the bestselling Genome; and James Watson, who with Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, arguably the greatest scientific discovery of the last century. Dawkins' widely admired literary style forms the subject of several pieces, including one from novelist Philip Pullman (author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy). As one of the world's best known rationalists, Dawkins' stance on religion is another theme in this collection, explored by Simon Blackburn, Michael Ruse, Michael Shermer, and the Bishop of Oxford. Numbering twenty in all, these articles are not simply rosy tributes, but explore how Dawkins' ideas have shaped thinking and public debate, and include elements of criticism as well as thoughtful praise.
Richard Dawkins' work has had the rare distinction of generating as much excitement outside the scientific community as within it. This stimulating volume is a superb summation of the depth and range of his influence.
Show More

Editor: Grafen, Alan
Degrees in Experimental Psychology, Economics and Zoology have exposed Professor Alan Grafen to various different statistical traditions, and also to his main research interest in how adaptive complexity arises through natural selection. He has been interested in statistics since he was an
undergraduate, learned mathematical theory of statistics as a graduate student, and encountered modern statistics in the package GLIM as a research student. The impetus to produce a systematic introduction for undergraduates to model formulae and the General Linear Model came from his appointment in
1989 to a lectureship in Quantitative Biology at Oxford University. Degrees in Zoology, Pest Management and Population Dynamics led Dr Rosie Hails toward the more quantitative areas of ecology. Most of her research career has developed the theme of the potential impacts of biological invasions, with
reference to both natural invasions and genetically modified organisms. In the early 1990s, she was involved in the first experiments monitoring the behaviour and population dynamics of transgenic plants in natural habitats across the UK with Professor Mick Crawley. More recently, at the NERC Centre
for Ecology and Hydrology in Oxford, her research themes have included the dynamics of wildlife diseases as well as plants. In moving to Oxford, Dr Hails became involved in teaching Professor Alan Grafen's undergraduate course, principally through a position at St Anne's College.
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Editor: Ridley, Mark
Mark Ridley works in the Department of Zoology, Oxford University. He previously held posts at Emory University in Atlanta and at Cambridge University in England. His books include the standard college text Evolution and Mendel s Demon. He has also edited anthologies on Evolution and A Darwin Selection.
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