Shows how the field of astrobiology investigates the nature of life in space. This book explores how the presence of planets around other stars affects our knowledge of our own; how water, carbon, and electrons interact to form life as we know it; and, how the processes of evolution and entropy act upon various living things.
Focusing on the evolution of teleology in biology, the book explores historical and philosophical perspectives from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. It examines how early biologists sought to explain life without invoking Aristotelian concepts, introducing constraints like methodological naturalism and local adaptation. The works of Kant, Darwin, and the Modern Synthesis are highlighted for their role in naturalizing teleology through natural selection and carbon chemistry. This interconnection of history, philosophy, and theory lays the groundwork for future research in the field.
This book explores the evolution of life-concepts, focusing on Aristotle's notion of vegetable souls and their interpretation through history. It examines the disconnect caused by Cartesian dualism and how modern biology aligns with Aristotelian ideas, urging a reevaluation of these concepts in light of recent discoveries about life's processes.