Aristotle to Zoos Philosophical Dictionary of Biology - Hardcover

Medawar, P. B. & J. S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297782975 ISBN 13: 9780297782971

Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1984

Synopsis

In the spirit of Voltaire-and occasionally in the spirit of P. G. Wodehouse-P. B. and J. S. Medawar have crafted for the life sciences a source of reference that is meant for browsing, a book both authoritative and filled with delights. The authors' breadth of knowledge is encyclopedic- arranged, appropriately enough, from A to Z-but more than that, they illuminate the ideas of biology with wit and intelligence and uncommon good sense. They bridge the chasm in our culture between the technology and the humanistically trained, breaking the code of jargon that limits access to scientific understanding. The Medawars' special gift is to offer, at the same time, a pleasurable introduction for the layman and a source of new insight for the specialist. In this book, we can find a clear and meaningful definition of interferon, a useful explanation of the immune system, and thoughtful essays on sociobiology, eugenics, and aging. But we also find: "It is a popular fallacy that chewing gum regains its flavor if removed from the mouth and parked, say, under a chair." Whether in a serious discussion of cancer or a whimsical reflection on "chicken and egg" imagery in science, the Medawars' blend of fact, literary allusion, historical anecdote, mythical and folk tradition, and even professional gossip is a rewarding exercise in biology as a humanistic endeavor.

About this title

Review

Biologists P. B. and J. S. Medawar take on a challenging task: introducing readers to the central problems of life science and showing their profound relevance to our daily lives. They do so with verve, correcting from essay to essay our common misconceptions about the nature of things. For one, they write, "It is a popular fallacy that chewing gum regains its flavor if removed from the mouth and parked, say, under a chair. What is regained is not the flavor but the ability to taste the flavor as sensory adaptation wears off." You'll learn a great deal about such adaptations, to say nothing of recombinant DNA research, biogenetics, and eugenics, oncology, transplantation, environmental change, and animal rights, among dozens of other topics.

From the Back Cover

The Medawars have ranged over the whole of the subject of the biological sciences, and have combined within one work an enormous amount of up-to-the-minute information on a variety of biological or medical-biological topics.

About this edition

• Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
• Publication date: 1984
• ISBN 10: 0297782975
• ISBN 13: 9780297782971
• Binding: Hardcover