Skipper, Robert (2002) The Persistence of the R.A. Fisher-Sewall Wright Controversy. [Preprint]

Preview

PDF skipper_controversy.pdf Download (279kB)

Abstract

This paper considers recent heated debates led by Jerry A. Coyne and Michael J. Wade on issues stemming from the 1929-1962 R. A. Fisher-Sewall Wright controversy in population genetics. William B. Provine once remarked that the Fisher-Wright controversy is central, fundamental, and very influential. Indeed, it is also persistent. The argumentative structure of the recent (1997-2000) debates is analyzed with the aim of eliminating a logical conflict in them, viz., that the two “sides” in the debates have different aims and that, as such, they are talking past each other. Given a philosophical analysis of the argumentative structure of the debates, suggestions supportive of Wade’s work on the debate are made that are aimed, modestly, at putting the persistent Fisher-Wright controversy on the course to resolution.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Skipper, Robert
Keywords:	Fisher, Wright, Coyne, Wade, population genetics, shifting balance theory, large population size theory
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology
Depositing User:	Robert Skipper
Date Deposited:	10 May 2004
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:12
Item ID:	1750
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology
Date:	June 2002
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1750

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item