Philip Kitcher Bücher

Als Charles Darwin im Jahr 1882 starb, sollte er auf Wunsch der Familie auf dem Friedhof jenes kleinen Dorfes in Kent beigesetzt werden, in dem er fast sein halbes Leben verbracht hatte. Daraus wurde nichts. Eine öffentliche Kampagne mit ausdrücklicher Unterstützung der anglikanischen Kirche führte dazu, dass der Begründer der Evolutionstheorie ein Staatsbegräbnis erhielt und seine letzte Ruhestätte in der Westminster Abbey fand - direkt neben dem Grabmal Isaac Newtons. Der Frieden zwischen der Kirche und Darwin war allerdings nur von kurzer Dauer. Heute, 150 Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung von On the Origin of Species, ist der Kampf um die Evolutionstheorie wieder neu entbrannt und Darwins gefährliche Idee steht insbesondere für Vertreter der christlichen Schöpfungslehre und ihrer wissenschaftlichen Spielart, der sogenannten Intelligent-Design-Theorie, zur Disposition.

Genetik und Ethik untersucht die zukünftigen Entwicklungen der Genetik und erörtert, wie die potenziellen Schreckensvisionen abgewendet werden können, um die Biomedizin zum Nutzen der Menschen einzusetzen. Der Fortschritt in Molekularbiologie und Gentechnik hat unser Wissen revolutioniert und wirft Fragen auf, die Begeisterung oder Angst hervorrufen. Mit der nahezu vollständigen Kartierung des menschlichen Genoms gewinnen Forscher neue Erkenntnisse über Vererbung und Physiologie, die unser Selbstverständnis verändern und uns die Möglichkeit geben, die Evolution unserer Spezies zu beeinflussen. Wird die Medizin mit den Möglichkeiten Schritt halten, wenn wir Risiken für Krankheiten vorhersagen können? Könnten Gentests neue Diskriminierungsformen durch Versicherungen und Arbeitgeber hervorrufen? Welche Vor- und Nachteile bringen DNA-Analysen in der Strafverfolgung mit sich? Werden wir unsere Nachkommen aufgrund vorhersagbarer Merkmale selektieren und Schwangerschaftsabbrüche nicht nur zur Vermeidung von Krankheiten, sondern auch von unerwünschten Eigenschaften rechtfertigen? Philip Kitcher bietet eine zugängliche Einführung in die Genforschung und beleuchtet deren praktische und philosophische Konsequenzen. Er ist Professor für Wissenschaftsgeschichte und -philosophie an der University of California in San Diego und hat am Human-Genom-Projekt mitgewirkt.

Focusing on the goals of education, Kitcher presents a comprehensive vision for reforming schools and universities to promote high-quality education for all. He emphasizes the necessary social changes and argues for the economic sustainability of these reforms. Drawing on influential thinkers like Dewey and Mill, this accessible volume reexamines educational institutions' roles in addressing both the demands of the 21st-century economy and the fundamental need for lifelong human flourishing.

Offering an engaging and accessible portrait of the current state of the field, Philosophy of Science: A New Introduction shows students how to think philosophically about science and why it is both essential and fascinating to do so. Gillian Barker and Philip Kitcher reconsider the core questions in philosophy of science in light of the multitude of changes that have taken place in the decades since the publication of C.G. Hempel's classic work, Philosophy of Natural Science (1966)—both in the field and also in history and sociology of science and the sciences themselves. They explore how philosophical questions are connected to vigorous current debates—including climate change, science and religion, race, intellectual property rights, and medical research priorities—showing how these questions, and philosophers' attempts to answer them, matter in the real world. Featuring numerous illustrative examples and extensive further reading lists, Philosophy of Science: A New Introduction is ideal for courses in philosophy of science, history and philosophy of science, and epistemology/theory of knowledge. It is also compelling and illuminating reading for scientists, science students, and anyone interested in the natural sciences and in their place in global society today.

Are we hard-wired for disaster? Or do new findings in evolution, development, and behavior show that human beings can adapt positively to adverse circumstances and realize a more just and inclusive society?

Published in 1913, Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice is one of the most widely read novellas in any language. In the 1970s, Benjamin Britten adapted it into an opera, and Lucchino Visconti turned it into a successful film. Reading these works from a philosophical perspective, Philip Kitcher connects the predicament of the novella’s central character to Western thought’s most compelling questions. In Mann’s story, the author Gustav von Aschenbach becomes captivated by an adolescent boy, first seen on the lido in Venice, the eventual site of Aschenbach’s own death. Mann works through central concerns about how to live, explored with equal intensity by his German predecessors, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. Kitcher considers how Mann’s, Britten’s, and Visconti’s treatments illuminate the tension between social and ethical values and an artist’s sensitivity to beauty. Each work asks whether a life devoted to self-sacrifice in the pursuit of lasting achievements can be sustained, and whether the breakdown of discipline undercuts its worth. Haunted by the prospect of his death, Aschenbach also helps reflect on whether it is possible to achieve anything in full awareness of our finitude and in knowing our successes are always incomplete.

Delving into the forefront of genetic research, Philip Kitcher explores the profound philosophical implications of this scientific revolution. He addresses critical ethical, legal, and political questions that arise from advancements in genetics, prompting readers to consider the broader impact of these developments on society both now and in the future.

The book presents a compelling argument for Darwinian evolutionary theory, emphasizing its scientific validity while critiquing alternatives like Intelligent Design as lacking substance. Kitcher explores the tensions between scientific discoveries and religious faith, highlighting the unresolved challenges posed by Darwin's work for both proponents and opponents of his ideas. Through a concise and articulate approach, he clarifies the significance of evolutionary theory in understanding our world.

A landmark work of environmental philosophy that seeks to transform the debate about climate change.

A positive assessment of secularism and the possibilities it offers for a genuinely meaningful life without religion Although there is no shortage of recent books arguing against religion, few offer a positive alternative--how anyone might live a fulfilling life without the support of religious beliefs. This enlightening book fills the gap. Philip Kitcher constructs an original and persuasive secular perspective, one that answers human needs, recognizes the objectivity of values, and provides for the universal desire for meaningfulness. Kitcher thoughtfully and sensitively considers how secularism can respond to the worries and challenges that all people confront, including the issue of mortality. He investigates how secular lives compare with those of people who adopt religious doctrines as literal truth, as well as those who embrace less literalistic versions of religion. Whereas religious belief has been important in past times, Kitcher concludes that evolution away from religion is now essential. He envisions the successors to religious life, where the senses of identity and community traditionally fostered by religion will instead draw on a broader range of cultural items--those provided by poets, filmmakers, musicians, artists, scientists, and others. With clarity and deep insight, Kitcher reveals the power of secular humanism to encourage fulfilling human lives built on ethical truth.