Life and Process

As this volume shows, much of current philosophy of biology is based on the assumptions of classical physics, which look increasingly inadequate in the light of developments in 20th-century science. These are spelt out in the introduction, where the editor explains the difference between current philosophy of biology and biophilosophy, which in this volume draws on the work of Whitehead with process ontology. The editor explains the need for a new approach on the basis of what the current approach is unable to deal with. He then sets out the foundations of Whitehead's metaphysics, including some key terms that need to be understood if one is to get to grips with a new view. As one might expect, the contributions are pretty technical and include teleology, variables in evolution and progressing beyond systems theory.

For the more general reader, the essays by Henry Stapp on the effect of mind upon brain and that by David Griffin on a third way beyond neo-Darwinism and intelligent design are of the greatest interest. Stapp and others question the principle of the causal closure of the physical and connect a more quantum approach with that of Whitehead. Griffin breaks down the arguments and claims of neo-Darwinism to two basic scientific doctrines concerning micro and macro evolution, five metaphysical doctrines including naturalism, uniformitarianism, positivism – materialism, atheism and nominalism; then four derivative scientific doctrines and two religious-moral implications - that the universe is meaningless and amoral. He then discusses Dembski's ID criticisms of neo-Darwinism before advancing his own third way and concluding with a statement of what could properly be taught in schools. His whole discussion brings a great deal of clarity to these important issues.