Phylogenetic Inference, Selection Theory, and History of Science: Selected Papers of A. W. F. Edwards with Commentaries

Description

A. W. F. Edwards is one of the most influential mathematical geneticists in the history of the discipline. One of the last students of R. A. Fisher, Edwards pioneered the statistical analysis of phylogeny in collaboration with L. L. Cavalli-Sforza, and helped establish Fisher's concept of likelihood as a standard of statistical and scientific inference. In this book, edited by philosopher of science Rasmus Gronfeldt Winther, Edwards's key papers are assembled alongside commentaries by leading scientists, discussing Edwards's influence on their own research and on thinking in their field overall. In an extensive interview with Winther, Edwards offers his thoughts on his contributions, their legacy, and the context in which they emerged. This book is a resource both for anyone interested in the history and philosophy of genetics, statistics, and science, and for scientists seeking to develop new algorithmic and statistical methods for understanding the genetic relationships between and among species both extant and extinct.

Rasmus Gronfeldt Winther is a philosopher of science, researcher, writer, educator, diver, seeker and explorer. His professional website is available at www.rgwinther.com.

'... those interested in the scientific process want to look behind that public image. How did these theories and experiments develop? What were the false starts and confusions that were embraced initially and then overcome? In what way do ethical and political factors affect the scientific process, and ought they to do so? One of the virtues of this volume is that it does not shortchange this set of questions.' Elliott Sober, The Quarterly Review of Biology