Title
From Darwin to Derrida: Selfish Genes, Social Selves, and the Meanings of Life (Mit Press),Used
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
How the meaningless process of natural selection produces purposeful beings who find meaning in the world.In From Darwin to Derrida, evolutionary biologist David Haig explains how a physical world of matter in motion gave rise to a living world of purpose and meaning. Natural selection, a process without purpose, gives rise to purposeful beings who find meaning in the world. The key to this, Haig proposes, is the origin of mutable textsgenesthat preserve a record of what has worked in the world. These texts become the specifications for the intricate mechanisms of living beings.Haig draws on a wide range of sourcesfrom Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy to Immanuel Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment to the work of Jacques Derrida to the latest findings on gene transmission, duplication, and expressionto make his argument. Genes and their effects, he explains, are like eggs and chickens. Eggs exist for the sake of becoming chickens and chickens for the sake of laying eggs. A gene's effects have a causal role in determining which genes are copied. A gene (considered as a lineage of material copies) persists if its lineage has been consistently associated with survival and reproduction. Organisms can be understood as interpreters that link information from the environment to meaningful action in the environment. Meaning, Haig argues, is the output of a process of interpretation; there is a continuum from the very simplest forms of interpretation, instantiated in single RNA molecules near the origins of life, to the most sophisticated. Life is interpretationthe use of information in choice.
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We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'From Darwin to Derrida'? A: The main theme of 'From Darwin to Derrida' is how the process of natural selection, which is inherently purposeless, leads to the emergence of purposeful beings that find meaning in their existence.
- Q: Who is the author of the book? A: The author of the book is David Haig, an evolutionary biologist.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: The book was published on March 31, 2020.
- Q: How many pages does 'From Darwin to Derrida' have? A: The book has 512 pages.
- Q: What is the binding type of the book? A: The book is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: What are the key sources referenced in the book? A: The book references a variety of sources including Laurence Sterne's 'Tristram Shandy', Immanuel Kant's 'Critique of the Power of Judgment', and the work of Jacques Derrida.
- Q: What is the significance of genes according to the author? A: According to David Haig, genes act as mutable 'texts' that preserve a record of successful adaptations, influencing the survival and reproduction of organisms.
- Q: Is this book suitable for someone without a background in biology? A: Yes, the book is written in an accessible manner and draws on a wide range of philosophical and literary sources, making it suitable for readers without a specialized background in biology.
- Q: What is the edition of the book? A: This is the first edition of 'From Darwin to Derrida'.
- Q: How does the book relate to the concept of meaning in life? A: The book explores how life, through the interpretation of information, leads to the construction of meaning, linking biological processes to philosophical inquiries about existence.