Donhauser, Justin (2017) Differentiating and defusing theoretical Ecology's criticisms: A rejoinder to Sagoff's reply to Donhauser (2016). Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 63 (Supple). 70 - 79.
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Abstract
In a (2016) paper in this journal, I defuse allegations that theoretical ecological research is problematic because it relies on teleological metaphysical assumptions. Mark Sagoff offers a formal reply. In it, he concedes that I succeeded in establishing that ecologists abandoned robust teleological views long ago and that they use teleological characterizations as metaphors that aid in developing mechanistic explanations of ecological phenomena. Yet, he contends that I did not give enduring criticisms of theoretical ecology a fair shake in my paper. He says this is because enduring criticisms center on concerns about the nature of ecological networks and forces, the instrumentality of ecological laws and theoretical models, and the relation between theoretical and empirical methods in ecology that that paper does not broach. Below I set apart the distinct criticisms Sagoff presents in his commentary and respond to each in turn.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | Theoretical ecology; Lotka-volterra models; Ecological laws; Ceteris paribus conditions | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Depositing User: | Justin Donhauser | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 29 Sep 2017 14:26 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 29 Sep 2017 14:26 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 13492 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences | ||||||
| Official URL: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S... | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Date: | 2017 | ||||||
| Page Range: | 70 - 79 | ||||||
| Volume: | 63 | ||||||
| Number: | Supple | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/13492 |
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