Heritability and Indirect Causation

Sesardic, Neven (2002) Heritability and Indirect Causation.

Full text available as:
Microsoft Word - Requires a viewer, such as Microsoft Word Viewer

Abstract

Genetic differences can lead to phenotypic differences either directly or indirectly (via causing differences in external environments, which then affect phenotype). This possibility of genetic effects being mediated by environmental influences is often used by scientists and philosophers to argue that heritability is not a very helpful causal or explanatory notion. In this paper it is shown that these criticisms are based on serious misconceptions about methods of behavior genetics.

Keywords:Genetics, Causation, heritability
Conferences and Volumes:[2002] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 18th Biennial Mtg - PSA 2002: Contributed Papers (Milwaukee, WI; 2002): PSA 2002 Contributed Papers
ID Code:1097
Deposited By:Program Committee,
Deposited On:23 March 2003