PhilSci Archive

A developmental systems account of human nature

Stotz, Karola and Griffiths, Paul E. (2018) A developmental systems account of human nature. [Preprint]

[img]
Preview
Text
A developmental systems account of human nature.pdf

Download (231kB) | Preview

Abstract

To understand human nature is to understand the plastic process of human development and the diversity it produces. Drawing on the framework of developmental systems theory and the idea of developmental niche construction, we argue that human nature is not embodied in only one input to development, such as the genome, and that it should not be confined to universal or typical human characteristics. Both similarities and certain classes of differences are explained by a human developmental system that reaches well out into the ‘environment’. We point to a significant overlap between our account and the ‘life history trait cluster’ account of Grant Ramsey. We defend the developmental systems account against the accusation that trying to encompass developmental plasticity and human diversity leads to an unmanageably complex account of human nature.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Stotz, Karolakarola.stotz@gmail.com
Griffiths, Paul E.paul.griffiths@sydney.edu.au0000-0002-8657-6873
Keywords: developmental systems theory, developmental niche construction, developmental plasticity, phenotypic plasticity, Grant Ramsey, Susan Oyama
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Depositing User: Professor Paul Edmund Griffiths
Date Deposited: 16 Mar 2018 16:38
Last Modified: 16 Mar 2018 16:38
Item ID: 14475
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Date: 23 January 2018
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14475

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item