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Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2019

Carol E. Cleland
Affiliation:
University of Colorado Boulder
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Summary

This book focuses on the search for a universal theory of life. It is concerned with the history of attempts to develop such a theory, diagnosing why these efforts have thus far been unsuccessful, and determining what is required to forge ahead and successfully pursue such a theory. It is of course possible that the diverse phenomena of life lack an objective natural unity, and hence that no such theory will ever be forthcoming. Indeed, this view has become popular among some biologists and many philosophers of biology. One of the central themes of the book is that skepticism about the prospects of universal biology is not only very premature but also potentially self-fulfilling: One does not want to short-circuit the potentially successful pursuit of universal biology by rejecting it out of hand.

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Chapter
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The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life
Searching for Life As We Don't Know It
, pp. 1 - 7
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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  • Introduction
  • Carol E. Cleland, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Book: The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life
  • Online publication: 05 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139046893.001
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  • Introduction
  • Carol E. Cleland, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Book: The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life
  • Online publication: 05 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139046893.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Carol E. Cleland, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Book: The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life
  • Online publication: 05 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139046893.001
Available formats
×