Naslov
Selective Pressures between “ Cheap Tricks” and Evolutionary Neutrality: Lessons from the Function Debate

Autori
Šustar, Predrag

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
Evolution and the Metaphysical Conditions of Ethics

Mjesto i datum
Cambridge, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, 06.06.2008. - 07.06.2008

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
biological functions; natural selection; human color vision

Sažetak
In this paper, I examine evolutionary constraints on functional ascriptions in biology. In particular, I focus on the role played in that respect by natural selection. Thus, in Section 2, an assessment of Cummins’ (2002) argument against the “ strong” and “ weak variations of neo-teleology” is given, which both rely on natural selection in grounding legitimate functional ascriptions. In Section 3, I introduce the main theories of neo-functionalization, to which Cummins refers in arguing against more moderate selectionist etiological accounts in the function debate. Accordingly, I argue in Section 4 that the scientific data in the neo-functionalization research, for example, in the case of human color vision, contrary to Cummins’ full evolutionary neutrality of function talk, offer a valuable support for a selectionist etiological account.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filozofija

POVEZANOST RADA