文档介绍：Biolog y an d th e Foundatio n o f Ethic s Thi s i s th e first o f a numbe r o f speciall y commissione d collaborativ e volume s o n topic s o f grea t curren t interes t t o philosophers , biologists , an d socia l sci - entist s tha t wil l b e appearin g i n Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Biol- ogy i n th e comin g years . Muc h attentio n ha s bee n devote d i n recen t year s t o th e questio n o f whethe r ou r mora l principle s ca n b e relate d t o ou r biologica l nature . Thi s collectio n o f ne w essay s focuse s o n th e connection s betwee n biology , i n particula r evo - lutionar y biology , an d foundationa l question s i n ethics . Th e boo k asks , fo r example , whethe r human s ar e innatel y selfis h an d whethe r ther e ar e partic - ula r facet s o f huma n natur e tha t bea r directl y o n socia l practices . Th e volum e i s organize d historically , beginnin g wit h Aristotl e an d cov - erin g suc h majo r figures a s Hum e an d Darwi n dow n t o th e presen t an d th e wor k o f Harvar d sociobiologis t E . O . Wilson . I t i s on e o f th e first effort s t o provid e historica l perspectiv e o n th e relationship s betwee n biolog y an d ethics , an d i t ha s bee n writte n b y som e o f th e leadin g figure s i n th e histor y an d phi - losoph y o f science , author s whos e wor k i s ver y muc h a t th e cuttin g edg e o f thes e disciplines . Jan e Maienschei n i s Professo r o f Philosoph y an d Biolog y a t Arizon a Stat e University . Michae l Rus e i s Professo r o f Philosoph y an d Zoolog y a t th e Universit y o f Guelph , Ontario . CAMBRIDG E STUDIE S I N PHILOSOPH Y AN D BIOLOG Y General Editor Michae l Rus e University ofGuelph Advisory Board Michae l Donoghu e Harvard University Jea n Gayo n Univers