The Ontogeny of Information

“[A]n exciting and engaging work that is still timely 15 years after its initial publication . . . .[T]he re-release of her book will ensure that another generation has access to her important arguments.” - Stephen M. Downes , Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

“For new readers interested in a provocative and novel view of behavioral ontogeny and evolution, the new Ontogeny is required reading. . . . Perhaps the greatest value of Oyama’s work is that it so thoroughly questions the most basic ideas under which the vast majority of us operate. . . . Oyama’s Ontogeny is perhaps the foundational text of the developmental systems view, and provides a wealth of theoretical issues that hopefully will generate both fruitful debate and research programs to aid us in better elucidating the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of behavior.” - T. M. Freeberg , Ethology

"In this revised edition, Oyama argues compellingly that nature and nurture are not alternative influences on human development but, rather, developmental products and developmental processes that produce them." - International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology Newsletter

“In the tale of the emperor’s new clothes, the small boy’s genius lay in his naive recognition of the great man’s nudity. Oyama has a similar, if more sophisticated genius: she recognizes the subtle manner in which molecular biologists have allowed metaphors to replace explanations. It is no exaggeration to claim that she has resolved the nature-nurture dispute and provided an altogether new vision of the processes of development and evolution.” - Peter Klopfer, Duke University

“The publication of this revised edition of The Ontogeny of Information is timely and welcome, especially given the current dominance of simplistic views about genetic causation, aided by constant misuse of the ideas of information, coding and programming. Oyama’s classic discussion of these concepts combines patient, subtle dissection with bold and novel moves. The Ontogeny of Information is a work of brilliant originality and enduring relevance.” - Peter Godfrey-Smith, Stanford University

“This is among the most important books on developmental theory published in the last several decades. It continues to be cited regularly in work from several different disciplines, including developmental biology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and psychology.” - Robert Lickliter, Virginia Polytechnic Institute