Ancestors in Evolutionary Biology
Linear Thinking about Branching Trees
Published on 13. July 2022
978-1-009-30263-0 (ISBN)
Description
Phylogenetics emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as a speculative storytelling discipline dedicated to providing narrative explanations for the evolution of taxa and their traits. It coincided with lineage thinking, a process that mentally traces character evolution along lineages of hypothetical ancestors. Ancestors in Evolutionary Biology traces the history of narrative phylogenetics and lineage thinking to the present day, drawing on perspectives from the history of science, philosophy of science, and contemporary scientific debates. It shows how the power of phylogenetic hypotheses to explain evolution resides in the precursor traits of hypothetical ancestors. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the topic of ancestors, which is central to modern biology, and is therefore of interest to graduate students, researchers, and academics in evolutionary biology, palaeontology, philosophy of science, and the history of science.
Reviews / Votes
'Recommended.' E. Delson, Choice 'A valuable volume for those looking for a complete but accessible history of the origins of systematics and the study of animal form. The book is particularly strong on tracing the idea of ancestors from its from its pre-Darwinian conception to a late 20th-century cladistic interpretation. I can easily imagine this volume complementing a graduate seminar on the evolution of animal body plans.' Stuart F. McDaniel, The Quarterly Review of BiologyMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
68,13 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-009-30263-0 (9781009302630)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2022
Cambridge University Press
€72.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
1. A history of narrative phylogenetics; 2. From archetypes to ancestors; 3. The emergence of lineage thinking; 4. Ernst Haeckel's evolutionary storytelling; 5. The epistemic rise of hypothetical ancestors; 6. Intuiting evolution; 7. Telling straight stories with fossils; 8. Seeing animal ancestors in embryos; 9. Ancestral attractions and phylogenetic folklore; 10. Narrative shortcuts and phylogenetic faux pas; 11. Taxic distortions of lineage thinking; 12. Making sense with stories.
