
Evolution as Natural History
A Philosophical Analysis
Wim J. van der Steen(Author)
Praeger Publishers Inc
Published on 30. June 2000
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-0-275-96870-0 (ISBN)
Description
Wim van der Steen charts conceptual foundations of evolutionary biology and, on the basis of this, he evaluates applications of evolutionary theory outside biology. Philosophical analysis shows that key notions of the theory such as fitness, adaptation, selection, and optimality are empty place-holder concepts that call for context-dependent specifications of meaning. For example, as he points out, the notion of optimality is empty without a specification of constraints. Hence, the controversial thesis that animals perform optimal behaviors as a result of natural selection is meaningless rather than true or false. Analysis shows that many other controversies in evolutionary biology are spurious. Thus, the thesis of genic selectionism, which puts genes at center stage in evolutionary theory, is best reconstructed as an arbitrary conceptualization without substance. Disagreements over the thesis are futile. They reflect preferences for different conceptualizations which are ultimately equivalent.
As concepts are properly specified, van der Steen asserts evolutionary theory turns out to be a body of interesting natural history at a low level of generality. General laws of evolution do not exist. Hence, evolutionary approaches do not allow sweeping claims about human nature. Unfortunately, in disciplines outside biology such claims are often defended with evolutionary approaches. Evolutionary theory also cannot serve as a foundation for normative views in ethics or epistemology. This is an important and controversial work for scholars and advanced researchers in biology and the philosophy of biology.
As concepts are properly specified, van der Steen asserts evolutionary theory turns out to be a body of interesting natural history at a low level of generality. General laws of evolution do not exist. Hence, evolutionary approaches do not allow sweeping claims about human nature. Unfortunately, in disciplines outside biology such claims are often defended with evolutionary approaches. Evolutionary theory also cannot serve as a foundation for normative views in ethics or epistemology. This is an important and controversial work for scholars and advanced researchers in biology and the philosophy of biology.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Interest Age: From 7 to 17 years
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-275-96870-0 (9780275968700)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
WIM J. van der STEEN is Professor of Philosophy of Biology, Faculties of Biology and Philosophy and Institute of Ethics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, and has published in experimental biology, the philosophy of biology, the philosophy of medicine, and ethics./e
Content
Introduction
Problems with Fitness
Adaptationism
The Chimera of Optimality
The Units of Selection
Evolution and Altruism
Evolution and Culture
Against Evolutionary Ethics
Evolution and Knowledge
Diseases in an Evolutionary Perspective
Conclusions
Bibliography
Index
Problems with Fitness
Adaptationism
The Chimera of Optimality
The Units of Selection
Evolution and Altruism
Evolution and Culture
Against Evolutionary Ethics
Evolution and Knowledge
Diseases in an Evolutionary Perspective
Conclusions
Bibliography
Index