The Music of Life, by Denis Noble: Review

PUBLISHER:

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Shaun Johnston:
In modern times we've made two revolutionary discoveries. One is, how changes in physical matter can be accounted for in terms of physical laws that can predict precisely what will happen next. Having given rise to science (how this can be studied) and industry (how it can be applied) this revolution is well under way.

The second revolution is, how emergence of species of living creatures can be accounted for in terms of them evolving from one another. This revolution, despite its promise of how much it could tell us about ourselves, remains stillborn through the mistaken application to it of principles coming out of the first revolution--reductive physicalism.

For this second revolution to advance it should be taken from under the wing of science and studied on its own terms. Tip: one recent product of evolution is creatures with minds. Minds are better studied through methods of the humanities than through those of science. Tell me, does this interest you?

Details: Written by Shaun Johnston Shaun Johnston; Published: November 4, 2015 November 4, 2015; Hits: 2377 2377

I have added Noble’s book to my list of classic texts for several reasons. First, for its focus on organisms as wholes. Second, for modeling how to apply the methods of the humanities to thinking about evolution. Third, for Noble’s standing as an experimental physiologist and as one of the pioneers of systems biology. More...