In this work, George C. Williams - one of evolutionary biology's most distinguished scholars - examines the mechanism and meaning of natural selection in evolution. Williams offers his own perspective on modern evolutionary theory, including discussions of the gene as the unit of selection, clade selection and macroevolution, diversity within and among populations, stasis, and other timely and provocative topics. In dealing with the levels-of-selection controversy, he urges a pervasive form of the replicator-vehicle distinction. Natural selection, he argues, takes place in the separate domains of information and matter. Levels-of-selection questions, consequently, require different theoretical devices depending on the domain being discussed. In addressing these topics, Williams presents his synthesis of three decades of research and creative thought which have contributed greatly to evolutionary biology in this century.

Natural Selection: Domains, Levels, and Challenges (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution)

Science & Math

Williams, George C.

Biological Sciences

Oxford University Press

In this work, George C. Williams--one of evolutionary biology's most distinguished scholars--examines the mechanisms and meaning of natural selection in evolution. Williams offers his own perspective on modern evolutionary theory, including discussions of the gene as the unit of selection, clade selection and macroevolution, diversity within and among populations, stasis, and other timely and provocative topics. In dealing with the levels-of-selection controversy, he urges a pervasive form of the replicator-vehicle distinction. Natural selection, he argues, takes place in the separate domains of information and matter. Levels-of-selection questions, consequently, require different theoretical devices depending on the domains being discussed. In addressing these topics, Williams presents a synthesis of his three decades of research and creative thought which have contributed greatly to evolutionary biology in this century.

Plan and Purpose in Nature is a brilliant survey of Darwinian evolution in the natural world.It tells the story not only of the wonderful adaptations which the process of the natural selection produces throughout nature,but also the limitations of evolution for the 20th century human beings,which environment and diet have changed drastically while their biology and psychology have not.

Plan and Purpose in Nature (Science Masters)

Evolution

Weidenfeld Nicolson Ltd

Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated

Examines the evolutionary adaptations and maladaptations of humans, including our eyesight, our cravings for sugar and fat, and our connected reproductory/excretory systems

The Pony Fish's Glow: And Other Clues To Plan And Purpose In Nature (Science Masters)

Basic Books

We may regard ourselves as the most advanced species on the planet, but have we really reached our optimum design? Isn't there always room for improvements? Before you answer, let noted evolutionary biologist George C. Williams remind you of both the exquisite adaptations and absurd maladaptations nature has bestowed upon us, the self-proclaimed ”pinnacle of evolution.”Picking up where Darwin left off, Williams combines philosophical perspective and scientific method to provide a foundation for the answers to some fascinating questions. He explains why our bodies have to deteriorate so disastrously with old age. He gives us logical reasons to explain why we crave foods like sugar and fat that have been proven time and again to be detrimental to our health. And Williams single-handedly deflates our Homo sapiens sapiens ego with such insights as: Our eyesightit may seem superior, but not when compared to that of the invertebrate squid, whose eye has developed over time to prove more efficient than ours. And wouldn't it make more sense to have a third eye, located on the back of the head? We could have stereoscopic vision in front and rear-vision warning us of danger sneaking up behind. Rear-view mirrors would become a thing of the past. And why stop at three eyes?This fascinating new book is markedly different from all previous work on evolutionary biology. Using the pony fish and its luminescent abdomen as the perfect evolutionary mystery, Williams explores the intricacies of nature's designs. Rather than telling us how or why the pony fish got its light, Williams explains the functional reasons why the pony fish keeps its light. He also explains why our species keeps arbitrary or malfunctioned features like the reproductive and excretory systems' sharing of parts.George C. Williams, one of today's most qualified evolutionary biologists, has written an important, entertaining, and thought-provoking addition to a science that has captivated the world for almost 150 years.

The Pony Fish's Glow: And Other Clues To Plan And Purpose In Nature

Politics & Social Sciences

Philosophy

Plan and Purpose in Nature: The Limits of Darwinian Evolution (Science Masters)

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Books by Williams, George C.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Williams, George C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Natural Selection: Domains, Levels, and Challenges (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution)

Natural Selection: Domains, Levels, and Challenges (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution)

Plan and Purpose in Nature (Science Masters)

Plan and Purpose in Nature (Science Masters)

The Pony Fish's Glow: And Other Clues To Plan And Purpose In Nature (Science Masters)

The Pony Fish's Glow: And Other Clues To Plan And Purpose In Nature

Plan and Purpose in Nature: The Limits of Darwinian Evolution (Science Masters)