Sociobiology and Bioeconomics: The Theory of Evolution in Biological and Economic Theory (Ethical Economy)

The theory of evolution and Neo-Darwinian biological theory extend their analysis in sociobiology from the life sciences and the animal societies to human societies. Sociobiology as a unifying theory of the social interaction within and between species has led to an integration of economic analysis into biology. The economy of nature has become the subject of bioeconomics which in turn transferred biological analysis to the human economy. Evolution, competition, selection, and cooperation are phenomena common to the economy of nature and human economy. The inclusion of economic and cultural theory in evolution theory raises the question whether the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis with its exclusive concern with somatic heredity is able to incorporate developmental systems of the human economy and of cultural heredity. A new synthesis of the natural and the social sciences is in the making. The volume at hand publishes the proceedings of the conference "Develop mental Systems, Competition, and Cooperation in Sociobiology and Eco nomics", a "Studies in Economic Ethics and Philosophy (SEEP)-Conference" held at Marienrode Monastery, Hildesheim-Marienrode near Hannover, Ger many, on 24-28 April 1996. This "Studies in Economic Ethics and Philoso phy (SEEP)-Conference" was made possible by the support of the Stiftung Forschungsinstitut fUr Philosophie Hannover ~ Foundation Hannover Insti tute of Philosophical Research. The editor wishes to thank his co-workers at the Forschungsinstitut fUr Philosophie Hannover for their assistance in organizing the conference at Ma rienrode and Anna Maria Hauk M.A. and Bettina Lohnert M.A. for their as sistance in preparing the computerized version of this book. A special word of gratitude is due the Stiftung Forschungsinstitut fOr Phi losophie Hannover whose financial support made the conference in 1996 pos sible. Hannover, September 1998 P.K. Contents Preface ... ... V Sociobiology, Theory of Evolution, and Bioeconomics Introduction PETER KOSLOWSKI ... ... 1 Part I Neo-Darwinian Synthesis, Sociobiology, and the Economy of Nature Chapter 1 Darwinian Monism: The Economy of Nature MICHAEL T. GHISELIN ... ... 7 Chapter 2 Coercion TIM CLUTION-BROCK and GEOFF A. PARKER ... 25 Chapter 3 Does the Second Law of Thermodynamics Refute the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis? BRUCE H. WEBER and DAVID 1. DEPEW Front Matter....Pages I-X Sociobiology, Theory of Evolution, and Bioeconomics Introduction....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Darwinian Monism: The Economy of Nature....Pages 7-24 Coercion....Pages 25-49 Does the Second Law of Thermodynamics Refute the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis?....Pages 50-75 Front Matter....Pages 77-77 Evolutionary and Developmental Formation: Politics of the Boundary....Pages 79-104 The Gene Is Dead — Long Live the Gene! Conceptualizing Genes the Constructionist Way....Pages 105-137 Front Matter....Pages 139-139 The Role of Hermeneutics in Biology....Pages 141-172 Science and Mythology: a New “metaxu”?....Pages 173-182 What Is the Impact of a Philosophically Based Criticism of Socio-Biology on the Scientific Community?....Pages 183-196 Front Matter....Pages 197-197 Synergetics in Sociology and Biology....Pages 199-218 Symbiosis, Mutualism and Cooperation in Biological Evolution....Pages 219-233 Front Matter....Pages 235-235 Are Economic Systems Like Organisms?....Pages 237-258 Darwinism and Economic Theory....Pages 259-278 Evolutionary Economics and Evolutionary Biology....Pages 279-298 Front Matter....Pages 299-299 The Theory of Evolution as Sociobiology and Bioeconomics A Critique of Its Claim to Totality....Pages 301-328 Back Matter....Pages 329-341