Mikkelson, Gregory M.
(2002)
Ecological Kinds and Ecological Laws.
[Preprint]
Abstract
Ecologists typically invoke "lawlike" generalizations, ranging over "structural" and/or "functional" kinds, in order to explain generalizations about "historical" kinds (such as biological taxa) rather than vice versa. This practice is justified, since structural and functional kinds tend to correlate better with important ecological phenomena than do historical kinds. I support these contentions with three recent case studies. In one sense, then, ecology is, and should be, more nomothetic, or law-based, than ideographic, or historically-based. This conclusion challenges several recent philosophical claims about the nature of ecological science.
| Item Type: |
Preprint
|
| Creators: |
| Creators | Email | ORCID  |
|---|
| Mikkelson, Gregory M. | | |
|
| Keywords: |
Laws of Nature, Ecology, Systematics, Biology, Conservation, Natural Kinds |
| Depositing User: |
Program Committee
|
| Date Deposited: |
23 Mar 2003 |
| Last Modified: |
13 Sep 2015 15:47 |
| Item ID: |
1087 |
| Date: |
2002 |
| URI: |
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1087 |
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[img]](https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/fileicons/doc.png)
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}