Ornithology, Evolution, and Philosophy
Springer Berlin (Verlag)
978-3-540-71778-2 (ISBN)
Ernst Mayr (1904-2005), eminent naturalist-systematist and ornithologist, "- chitect" of the Synthetic Theory of Evolution, leading evolutionary biologist and in?uential historian and philosopher of biology, was asked repeatedly by friends, associates, and peers to write an autobiography, but he always declined such s- gestions because he considered those of other people he knew as inadequate. Moreover, he could not very well talk about himself without bragging, which did not appeal to him. Who else has had a private dinner with the Emperor and - pressofJapan?WhoelsehashadhonorarydegreesfromtheUniversitiesofOxford, Cambridge, Harvard, the Sorbonne, Uppsala, and Berlin? And who else has been able to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his PhD? He also published several au- biographicalaccounts,dictatedcopiousautobiographicalnotes,andannotatedhis bibliography. I had the privilege of using these notes and, in addition, of asking him numerous questions, which he answered patiently in many personal letters. He supported the plan of a biography wholeheartedly from the beginning and reviewed a ?rst draft in detail. In many ways he should be considered a coauthor of this book. As a high school student and eager birdwatcher in Germany, I read Kramer's (1948) extensive review of Mayr's Systematics and the Origin of Species (1942e) and was impressed with the general evolutionary relevance of the discussions and conclusions in this book based, in large part, on his ornithological studies.
Jürgen Haffer was born in 1932. He majored in geology and paleontology obtaining a PhD degree at the University of Göttingen in 1957. He became an exploration geologist and lived in South and North America, Iran, Egypt, and Norway. During these assignments he studied the bird faunas of Amazonia and Iran and has been in close communication with Ernst Mayr since the early 1960s. He also co-published a biography of Erwin Stresemann, Mayr's teacher and friend in Berlin, Germany.
The Young Naturalist in Germany.- Childhood and Youth.- The Budding Scientist.- Ornithologist and Evolutionist in New York.- The New York Years (1931-1953).- Ornithologist and Zoogeographer.- Biological Species and Speciation-Mayr's First Synthesis.- Life in North America during World War II.- Professor of Zoology at Harvard University.- The Harvard Years (1953-2005).- Evolutionary Biology-Mayr's Second Synthesis.- Ernst Mayr-the Man.- Systematics and Classification.- History and Philosophy of Biology-Mayr's Third Synthesis.- Summary: Appreciation of ErnstMayr's Science.
From the reviews:
"Haffer's book is clearly ... for historians and philosophers of science, for evolutionary and other biologists with an interest in one of the eminent personalities in their field in the 20th century, and for advanced students in biology and philosophy, which already have a background in the philosophy and history of evolutionary biology. ... a fascinating piece of historical analysis and description. It is now and will always be the initial point for any historical work on Ernst Mayr ... ." (Michael Ohl, Zoosystematics and Evolution, Vol. 84 (2), 2008)
"To provide both a biography of Ernst Mayr and an interpretive overview of his scientific contributions in a single book is a daunting task, but Jürgen Haffer succeeds admirably. ... Throughout the book, Haffer blends a chronology of Mayr's personal life with an analytical review of his contributions to various disciplines. ... The book is a good read for anyone interested in evolutionary ideas, in how science progresses, or in the career of an amazing scientist." (M. Ross Lein, Ibis, Vol. 150, 2008)
"In Ornithology, Evolution, and Philosophy, Jürgen Haffer chronicles Mayr's life and his research. ...the book will be useful not only to Mayr scholars but also to anyone wishing to understand the progress of evolutionary biology through the last century." (Trevor Price, Bioscience, Vol. 54 (2), February, 2009)
"Jürgen Haffer opens his biography of Ernst Mayr with an overview of his elegant, comprehensive work: the ornithologist, evolutionist and historian/philosopher of biology is described in detail. ... Haffer's monograph ... will become a classic in the literature on the history of twentieth century biology. ... This first biography, which contains many unpublished photographs such as a picture showing 'the three Mayr brothers in Kempten (Allgäu, Bavaria), August 1907,' will certainly open a series of books on Ernst Mayr and his outstandingscientific achievements." (U. Kutschera, Evolution: Education and Outreach, Vol. 2 (3), 2009)
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 19.11.2007 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | X, 474 p. 71 illus. |
| Verlagsort | Berlin |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 155 x 235 mm |
| Gewicht | 672 g |
| Themenwelt | Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Evolution |
| Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie | |
| Schlagworte | Biography • Biology • Charles Darwin • Darwin • Ernst Mayr • Evolution • evolutionary biology • Genetics • Mayr, Ernst (Biologe) • Natural selection • Ornithology • Taxonomy • Theory of Evolution |
| ISBN-10 | 3-540-71778-1 / 3540717781 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-3-540-71778-2 / 9783540717782 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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