Plutynski, A (2004) Explanation in Classical Population Genetics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The recent literature in philosophy of biology has drawn attention to the different sorts of explanations proffered in the biological sciences—we have molecular, biomedical, and evolutionary explanations. Do these explanations all have a common structure or relation that they seek to capture? This paper will answer in the negative. I defend a pluralistic and pragmatic approach to explanation. Using examples from classical population genetics, I argue that formal demonstrations, and even strictly “mathematical truths,” may serve as explanatory in different historical contexts.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Plutynski, A aplutyns@wustl.edu
Keywords:	mathematics, explanation, population genetics, evolution
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User:	A Plutynski
Date Deposited:	13 Nov 2018 00:39
Last Modified:	13 Nov 2018 00:39
Item ID:	15311
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory General Issues > Explanation
Date:	2004
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15311

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