Derek M. Jones is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of Cognitive Science at the University of Evansville, USA.

• Introduction1. On the Need for a Theory of Primitive Action2. Guidance and Deviance3. Whole-Organism Agency4. Guideless Guidance5. From Eddies of Order to Wellsprings of Value6. From Autopoiesis to Agency7. Conclusion: Beyond Primitive Agency

Recent decades have seen a rise of theories of human agency that acknowledge its biological roots. This development encompasses both the philosophy of biology and ‘classical’ analytic philosophy of mind and action—so far, however, in the form of two largely separate debates. Jones’ monograph on The Biological Foundations of Action is a most welcome contribution, as it engages with both of these debates.Anne Sophie Meincke, University of Exeter, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

Derek M. Jones is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of Cognitive Science at the University of Evansville, USA.

• Introduction1. On the Need for a Theory of Primitive Action2. Guidance and Deviance3. Whole-Organism Agency4. Guideless Guidance5. From Eddies of Order to Wellsprings of Value6. From Autopoiesis to Agency7. Conclusion: Beyond Primitive Agency

Recent decades have seen a rise of theories of human agency that acknowledge its biological roots. This development encompasses both the philosophy of biology and ‘classical’ analytic philosophy of mind and action—so far, however, in the form of two largely separate debates. Jones’ monograph on The Biological Foundations of Action is a most welcome contribution, as it engages with both of these debates.Anne Sophie Meincke, University of Exeter, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

Derek M. Jones is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of Cognitive Science at the University of Evansville, USA.

• Introduction1. On the Need for a Theory of Primitive Action2. Guidance and Deviance3. Whole-Organism Agency4. Guideless Guidance5. From Eddies of Order to Wellsprings of Value6. From Autopoiesis to Agency7. Conclusion: Beyond Primitive Agency

Recent decades have seen a rise of theories of human agency that acknowledge its biological roots. This development encompasses both the philosophy of biology and ‘classical’ analytic philosophy of mind and action—so far, however, in the form of two largely separate debates. Jones’ monograph on The Biological Foundations of Action is a most welcome contribution, as it engages with both of these debates.Anne Sophie Meincke, University of Exeter, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences