Is Neo-Darwinism Enough?

Denis Noble, David Sloan Wilson

Inkwell Press, May 5, 2025 - Philosophy - 262 pages

David Sloan Wilson and Denis Noble participate in a dialogue centering around the sufficiency of a neo-Darwinian framework. In this book Wilson and Noble argue the following theses: Professor Wilson: The neo-Darwinian framework provides a reasonably complete and adequate explanation of biological phenomena, including the appearance of teleology in living systems. No new theoretical breakthroughs are either necessary or to be expected. Neo-Darwinism is enough! Professor Noble: The neo-Darwinian framework, however necessary it may be, does not provide a complete and adequate explanation of biological phenomena, especially teleology. New theoretical breakthroughs are both necessary and to be expected. Neo-Darwinism is not enough!

About the author

Denis Noble is Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics of the Medical Sciences Division of the University of Oxford, where he held the Burdon Sanderson Chair of Cardiovascular Physiology, 1984-2004. A pioneer in computer modeling of biological organs and systems, Noble received his PhD from University College London. He is the author of several books, including The Music of Life: Biology Beyond Genes (Oxford UP, 2008), Dance to the Tune of Life: Biological Relativity (Cambridge UP, 2017), and Understanding Living Systems, with Raymond Noble (Cambridge UP, 2023). Website: https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/ team/denis-noble. David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor in the departments of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. His research interests focus on multilevel selection theory, human evolution, and differentiation within species, populations, and individuals. Wilson received his PhD from Michigan State University. He is the author of many books, including Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives (Delta, 2007), Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Yale UP, 2015), and This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution (Pantheon, 2019). Website: https://davidsloanwilson.world/.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Is Neo-Darwinism Enough?
• Authors: Denis Noble, David Sloan Wilson
• Publisher: Inkwell Press, 2025
• ISBN: 9798899460159
• Length: 262 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / General; Science / General; Science / Life Sciences / Evolution