The Causal Structure of Natural SelectionRecent arguments concerning the nature of causation in evolutionary theory, now often known as the debate between the 'causalist' and 'statisticalist' positions, have involved answers to a variety of independent questions – definitions of key evolutionary concepts like natural selection, fitness, and genetic drift; causation in multi-level systems; or the nature of evolutionary explanations, among others. This Element offers a way to disentangle one set of these questions surrounding the causal structure of natural selection. Doing so allows us to clearly reconstruct the approach that some of these major competing interpretations of evolutionary theory have to this causal structure, highlighting particular features of philosophical interest within each. Further, those features concern problems not exclusive to the philosophy of biology. Connections between them and, in two case studies, contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of physics demonstrate the potential value of broader collaboration in the understanding of evolution. |
Contents
| 1990 | |
Diagramming Evolving Systems | |
New Perspectives on Causalism | |
Two Proposals | |
Conclusion | |
References | |
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Abrams Abrams’s abstraction analogy analytic entailment approach argue Ariew Batterman behavior Biology & Philosophy Boyd causal probabilities causal process causal profile causal structure causal systems causalist position claim composition connection D-selection Darwin described diagram dynamical principles ergodic evolution evolutionary biology evolutionary change evolutionary explanations evolutionary theory fact Figure Fisher genetic drift give rise given selective pressure Hodge individual and population individual level individual lineage individual organisms individual-level causal individual-level causalist kinds kinematic properties lineage structure literature mathematical Matthen mean molecular kinetic mental properties metaphysics Michael Ruse micro-level Millstein models molecular kinetic energy MS-selection natural selection noncausal offer Otsuka outcomes particular Pence and Ramsey philosophy of biology philosophy of physics Philosophy of Science physics population change population genetics population level population-level causal propensity interpretation questions R. A. Fisher relationship relevant Sober space statistical mechanics statisticalist position statisticalist view structure of natural supervenience trait fitnesses trajectories understanding variation Walsh