Psychological Categories as Homologies: Lessons from Ethology
Ereshefsky, Marc (2007) Psychological Categories as Homologies: Lessons from Ethology. In [2007] The Importance of Homology for Biology and Philosophy.
Full text available as: |
Abstract
This paper takes up the project of studying psychological categories as homologies. Ethologists have numerous theoretical ideas concerning the phylogeny and ontogeny of behavioral homologies. They also have well-developed operational methods for testing behavioral homologies. Many of these theoretical ideas and operational criteria can be applied to psychological homologies. This paper suggests that insights from ethology should be incorporated in adaptationist and functionalist approaches to psychology. Doing so would strengthen those approaches.
| Keywords: | adaptationism, behavioral homology, evolutionary psychology, functionalism, homology, ontogeny, phylogeny |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Biology |
| Conferences and Volumes: | [2007] The Importance of Homology for Biology and Philosophy |
| ID Code: | 3512 |
| Deposited By: | Brigandt, Ingo |
| Deposited On: | 12 September 2007 |
| Additional Information: | Presented as part of the symposium ‘The Importance of Homology for Biology and Philosophy’ at ISHPSSB 2007 (July 25-29, Exeter). To appear together with the other symposium papers in a special issue of Biology and Philosophy (2007, volume 22, issue 5, guest-editors: I. Brigandt and P.E. Griffiths). |