Agency and Organisation: The Dialectics of Nature and Life

This book examines groundbreaking changes occurring within evolutionary theory, where the dominant gene-centered view that still occupies public imagination is being challenged by new perspectives. Under the banner of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, these changes have placed the organism and its agency back at the center of evolution, challenging long-held dogmas that seemed untouchable. By mapping these theoretical developments and examining their relationship with contemporary philosophical movements, this work builds toward a dialectical philosophy of nature, offering a systematic framework for how the humanities and philosophy can productively engage with natural science. It presents a new vision that places life at its center, seeking to unify different fields of knowledge while respecting their unique approaches and insights, rather than forcing them to conform to a single method.

. - Contents. - Abstract. - Acknowledgements. - Introduction: The Return of Life and Dialectics. - Chapter 1: Setting the Stage: The Evolution of Evolution. - Chapter 2: A Foray into Organicism. - Chapter 3: Poiesis and Closure. - Chapter 4: Self-Reference and Enablement. - Chapter 5: Plasticity, Canalisation, and. - Chapter 6: The Organisation of the Environment. - Conclusion: Whither Science? .