The Architecture of Evolution

"Tamborini shows structuralism in its richness, detailing how morphologists sought not to banish teleology but to locate it. Much of the pleasure I took in the book lays in the variety and vigor of these attempts.

Furthermore, The Architecture of Evolution is relevant to and illuminating of many questions of active interest today: To what extent can organisms be understood as (analogous to) machines? How does the study of form relate to, on the one hand, the study of the causes of evolutionary change and, on the other hand, the study of phylogeny? What are the proper roles of function talk in biology, and what “function” concept(s) are required to play those roles? And many more." H-Net Reviews

"Tamborini’s goal is to stress ‘the deep intersections between philosophical theories, morphological practices, and architectural design’". BJHS

"Experts and beginners alike will find in Tamborini’s text a fluid, intelligible, and fascinating study of the architecture of evolution".  Isis

"Contrary to the standard narrative, Tamborini is painting a picture of an intense intellectual struggle during the 20th century when morphologists were seeking to re-negotiate the role of morphology in 20th century biology. This his- tory turns out to be a highly dynamic story of initial refusal to engage with the achievements of genetics and eventual re-establishment of morphology as an ‘interstitial science’, that, rather than being a center of gravity, became a bridge that connects many disciplinary research programs in biology and beyond."  Günther Wagner, Trends in Ecology & Evolution

"Marco Tamborini’s book is a much-needed history of morphological thought in the twentieth century. It provides an engaging intellectual journey, leading us through biology, architecture, philosophy, engineering, mathematics, politics, and art. This is a highly original contribution that shows how the science of form emerged from an international and interdisciplinary enterprise".  Maurizio Esposito, University of Lisbon, Portugal  

"The Architecture of Evolution is a major contribution to the historiography of morphology in the twentieth century. Tamborini shows how the riddle of organismal form was a central preoccupation of theoretically and philosophically minded biologists, and he examines how the discipline of morphology was variously conceptualized and pursued in different national and intellectual traditions. It is an exceptionally rich book that will be essential reading for anyone interested in morphology and its relation to evolution."  Daniel J. Nicholson, George Mason University