The Mythology of Evolution

by Chris Bateman

Overview

This book liberates evolution from misrepresentative scientific myths to find a more nuanced vision of life that shows how advantages persist, trust is beneficial, and the diversity of species emerges.



























,

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780996509
Publisher:	Collective Ink
Publication date:	09/28/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	278
File size:	422 KB

About the Author

Chris Bateman is a game designer, outsider philosopher and author, best known for the games Discworld Noir and Ghost Master, and the books Game Writing: NarrativeSkills for Videogames, 21st Century Game Design and Beyond Game Design. He has worked on more than thirty digital game projects over the last fifteen years, primarily with his acclaimed consultancy International Hobo.Graduating with a Masters degree in Artificial Intelligence/Cognitive Science, he has since pursued highly-acclaimed independent research into how and why people play games. In 2009, he was invited to sit on the IEEE's Player Satisfaction Modelling task force, in recognition for his role in establishing this research domain. His most recent player model, BrainHex, is based upon neurobiological principles published in his paper 'The Neurobiology of Play', and the BrainHex test has been taken by more than 75,000 people.Chris has also travelled the world studying religious practices and beliefs, and has taken part in everything from Native American sweat lodges to Pagan solstice celebrations, as well as visiting Buddhist and Shinto shrines in Japan, and witnessing traditional tribal religions in Africa whilst visiting the Sahel Reserve near the Sahara desert.His blog Only a Game (http://onlyagame.typepad.com) deals with both philosophy and digital game theory, and contains a prolific array of articles, many of which have been featured elsewhere. He is considered to be one of the major commentators on the videogame industry, an expert on player satisfaction modelling, and a proficient philosopher.
,

Table of Contents

Biographical Notes x

Other Books Chris Bateman xi

Preface 1

1 Scientific Mythology

Imagining the Birds 8

Myths and Metaphysics 14

Popper's Milestone 19

Rewriting Science 24

The Myths of Evolution 32

2 Progress and Destiny

Imaginary Selection 37

The Ladder of Progress 48

How-Why Games 56

Survival of the Fittest 62

3 Gene Supremacy

The Gene Confusion 70

Myths of Selfishness 80

Why Co-operation? 89

Evolving Alliances 99

Symbiosis Everywhere 104

The Secret of Life 116

Flexible Mutants 128

4 Metaphors of Design

Intelligent Design 139

Kant's Restraining Order 147

Evolution Before Darwin 156

Sneaky Theology 164

Beyond Adaptation 175

5 True Myths

Fact and Fiction 188

Orthodox Science Fiction 194

The Borders of Science 199

Positivism 209

Creation Myths 218

Facing Silence 227

References 237

Glossary 255