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Chance in the Modern Synthesis

Plutynski, A and Matthews, Lucas J. and Molter, Daniel and Blake, Vernon (2016) Chance in the Modern Synthesis. Chance in Evolution. pp. 76-103.

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Abstract

The modern synthesis in evolutionary biology is taken to be that period in which a consensus developed among biologists about the major causes of evolution, a consensus that informed research in evolutionary biology for at least a half century. As such, it is a particularly fruitful period to consider when reflecting on the meaning and role of chance in evolutionary explanation. Biologists of this period make reference to “chance” and loose cognates of “chance,” such as: “random,” “contingent,” “accidental,” “haphazard,” or “stochastic.” Of course, what an author might mean by “chance” in any specific context varies.
In the following, we first off er a historiographical note on the synthesis.
Second, we introduce five ways in which synthesis authors spoke about
chance.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Plutynski, Aaplutyns@wustl.edu
Matthews, Lucas J.lucasjohnmatthews@gmail.com
Molter, Danieldan.molter@utah.edu
Blake, Vernon
Keywords: chance, evolution, explanation, modern synthesis
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User: A Plutynski
Date Deposited: 15 Nov 2018 00:25
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2018 00:25
Item ID: 15336
Journal or Publication Title: Chance in Evolution
Publisher: University of Chicago
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Date: 2016
Page Range: pp. 76-103
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15336

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