Life Beyond Human Boundaries: John Dupré’s Philosophy and the Interdisciplinary Study of the Life Sciences

This open access book is self-standing as the only substantive anthology of writings centered on John Dupre’s work. Dupré is internationally regarded as one of the most prominent living philosophers of science. His work has had a profound impact on philosophy and biology over the last half century. From fundamental questions about classification to metaphysical debates about the nature of organisms and life, Dupre’s writings have changed how scholars look at the life sciences and the natural world. But it is not just his published output that has re-shaped the field. It is also his philosophical methodology, characterised by a naturalistic and interdisciplinary approach. In part this approach was shaped by Dupré’s interactions with natural and social scientists, an aspect of his approach to philosophy that is also reflected in his role as a co-founder and then Director of the Egenis Centre for the Study of Life Sciences. This book, edited and authored by many of the world’s leading philosophers of the life sciences provides a key text on the interdisciplinary study of the life sciences with a particular emphasis on philosophy. It is of interest to philosophers of science and forms a methodological reference point for students in this field.