On the nature of the theory of evolution

Philosophy of Science 48 (3):416-437 (1981)
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Abstract

This paper supplements an earlier one (Wassermann 1978b). Its views aim to reinforce those of Lewontin and other prominent evolutionists, but differ significantly from the opinions of some philosophers of science, notably Popper (1957) and Olding (1978). A basic distinction is made between 'laws' and 'theories of mechanisms'. The 'Theory of Evolution' is not characterized by laws, but is viewed here as a hypertheory which explains classifiable evolutionary phenomena in terms of subordinate classifiable theories of 'evolution-specific mechanisms' (ESMs), each of which could apply to a host of species. Adaptations could result from ESMs that are rooted in molecular complementarities. The status of optimization theories that aim to predict best adapted states of organisms or populations is also discussed

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10.1086/289008

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Citations of this work

Probabilistic causation and the explanatory role of natural selection.Pablo Razeto-Barry & Ramiro Frick - 2011 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 42 (3):344-355.
Human Behaviour and Biology.G. D. Wassermann - 1983 - Dialectica 37 (3):169-184.
The phylogeny and ontogeny of behavior.B. F. Skinner - 1984 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 7 (4):669-677.

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References found in this work

Artificial Intelligence and Natural Man.Margaret A. Boden - 1978 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 29 (4):394-395.
Karl Popper's philosophy of biology.Michael Ruse - 1977 - Philosophy of Science 44 (4):638-661.
A defence of evolutionary laws.A. Olding - 1978 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 29 (2):131-143.

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