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Are species worth saving? Can they be resurrected by technology? What is the use of species in biomedicine? These questions all depend on a clear definition of the concept of 'species', yet biologists have long struggled to define this term. In this accessible book, John S. Wilkins provides an introduction to the concept of 'species' in biology, philosophy, ethics, policymaking and conservation. Using clear language and easy-to-understand examples throughout, Understanding Species provides a history of species and why we use them. It encourages readers to appreciate the philosophical depth of the concept as well as its connections to logic and science. For any interested reader, this short text highlights the complexities of a single idea in biology, the problems with the concept of 'species' and the benefits of it in helping us to answer the bigger questions and understand our living world.
Foreword
Preface
1. How species matter
2. Classifying species
3. Making species
4. A short history of species and kinds
5. Philosophy and species
6. Finding species
7. Extinction, or how species are lost
8. The value of species
9. Replacing species
10. Conclusions and summary
Summary of misunderstandings of species
Readings
Figure credits
Index
John S. Wilkins teaches at the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia. His main research interests include the philosophy and history of biology and classification, and the cognitive science of religion. He is the author of many books, including Species: The Evolution of the Idea (CRC Press, 2018).
"The species problem is a vexing and important one, and John Wilkins has done more than anyone else to dig into its history and integrate it with philosophy past and present. Thus he was the perfect author for this book, which is a wonderful, accessible entryway to the diverse set of issues bearing on why species have been such a 'thing' for 2000 years. My own conclusion is to follow Darwin and acknowledge the species rank is a meaningless human construct – the full tree of life is what matters, not just the single level within it arbitrarily called species. But to decide whether to agree with me or not, you need to absorb the content in this book."
– Brent D. Mishler, author of What, if Anything, are Species?, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley
"The species problem is one of the most complex issues in evolutionary biology and philosophy of biology, and not many would have succeeded in producing a comprehensive overview of it and doing justice to both science and philosophy. Written by one of the most eminent scholars in the field, Understanding Species is an informative and, due to the author's eloquent writing style, at the same time also very entertaining read. It both quenches your thirst for knowledge and makes you want to dive deeper into the topic. What more can you ask of a book? Highly recommended!"
– Frank E. Zachos, Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria, author of Species Concepts in Biology (2016)
"A species is like jazz: you know one when you meet it, but on closer inspection it's very hard to define. In this engaging book, John Wilkins guides us deftly through the philosophical minefield of what species are, how you recognise them, and how trying to find definitions for species is increasingly important for science and conservation."
– Henry Gee, author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth
"This book is a stunning achievement, and I think nobody other than Wilkins could have tied together the disparate perspectives needed to write it. Species problems are notoriously thorny and multi-disciplinary, yet Wilkins manages to shine great light on them. Most impressively he does this in ways that many people, rather than just species experts, can understand, engage, and enjoy. The writing is snappy, the choice of topics smart, and the rewards for readers will be many."
– Matthew J. Barker, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University, Montréal
