Nanay, Bence (2004) Can Cumulative Selection Explain Adaptation? In: UNSPECIFIED. (In Press)

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Abstract

Two strong arguments have been given in favour of the claim that no selection process whatever can play a role in explaining adaptations. According to the first one, selection is a negative force; it never creates, only destroys, hence it cannot play a role in explaining adaptation. The second argument claims that selection cannot play a role in explaining adaptation, since the explanandum and the explanans are phenomena at different levels: selection is a population-level phenomenon, whereas adaptation occurs on the individual level. After pointing out that both arguments ignore the significance of the limitation of environmental resources, I will construe a positive argument for the claim that cumulative selection processes can play a role in explaining adaptations.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Nanay, Bence
Keywords:	selection, cumulative selection, adaptation, environment, explanation
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology
Depositing User:	Bence Nanay
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2004
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:12
Item ID:	1911
Public Domain:	No
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology
Date:	2004
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1911

Available Versions of this Item

• Can Cumulative Selection Explain Adaptation? (deposited 26 Aug 2004) [Currently Displayed]
  • Can Cumulative Selection Explain Adaptation? (deposited 07 Nov 2005)

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