Teleology in the Ancient World (Hardcover)

Julius Rocca

ISBN 10: 1107036631 / ISBN 13: 9781107036635

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2017

About this Item

Hardcover. The ancient origins of teleological concepts are sometimes either conveniently forgotten or given a distorted appearance. On the one hand, ancient teleology has been obscured by the theological cloak of creationism. On the other, Darwinists have sometimes failed to give due consideration to the variety and subtlety of teleology's intellectual antecedents. The purpose of this book is to restore the balance by looking at the manifold ways in which teleology in antiquity was viewed. The volume, consisting of twelve essays by leading authorities in their fields, examines the ways in which teleological arguments were used in antiquity and how these discussions inform and influence current debates on evolution, creationism and intelligent design. As well as examining philosophical contributions to the subject, a specific aim is to examine ancient medical thinking on this topic and its relationship to ancient philosophical ideas. Teleology is the study of ends or purposes. This collection of twelve essays examines ancient philosophical and medical approaches to a subject that has often been conflated with theological arguments advocated by proponents of creationism and intelligent design. In so doing, it will enable a better evaluation of teleological argumentation. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781107036635

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Teleology in the Ancient World (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107036631
• ISBN 13: 9781107036635
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The ancient origins of teleological concepts are sometimes either conveniently forgotten or given a distorted appearance. On the one hand, ancient teleology has been obscured by the theological cloak of creationism. On the other, Darwinists have sometimes failed to give due consideration to the variety and subtlety of teleology's intellectual antecedents. The purpose of this book is to restore the balance by looking at the manifold ways in which teleology in antiquity was viewed. The volume, consisting of twelve essays by leading authorities in their fields, examines the ways in which teleological arguments were used in antiquity and how these discussions inform and influence current debates on evolution, creationism and intelligent design. As well as examining philosophical contributions to the subject, a specific aim is to examine ancient medical thinking on this topic and its relationship to ancient philosophical ideas.

About the Author

Julius Rocca is Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Classical Philology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His book Galen on the Brain (2003) was awarded the 2006 Outstanding Book in the History of the Neurosciences award by the International Society for the History of the Neurosciences.