Anthony O'Hear takes a stand against the fashion for explaining human behaviour in terms of evolution, arguing that, although evolutionary theory accounts for the development of life, it cannot satisfactorily explain the distinctive facets of human existence - self-consciousness, the quest for knowledge, moral sense, and the appreciation of beauty - where we transcend our biological origins.

1. Mind and Nature 2. Immanent and Transcendent Dimensions of Reason 3. Self-Conscious Belief 4. Evolutionary Epistemology 5. Evolution and Epistemological Pessimism 6. Morality and Politics 7. Beauty and the Theory of Evolution 8. Conclusions Bibliography Index

Anthony O'Hear , Professor of Philosophy, University of Bradford

`a valuable addition to the literature on evolutionary philosophy.' Nicholas Agar, Mind, Vol.110, No.438, April 2001 |d 15/08/2001