Nanay, Bence (2005) Can Cumulative Selection Explain Adaptation? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Two strong arguments have been given in favour of the claim that no selection process can play a role in explaining adaptations. According to the first one, selection is a negative force; it may explain why the eliminated individuals are eliminated, but it does not explain why the ones that survived (or their offspring) have the traits they have. The second argument points out that the explanandum and the explanans are phenomena at different levels: selection is a population-level phenomenon, whereas adaptation occurs on the individual level. Thus, selection can explain why individuals in a certain population have a certain trait, but it cannot explain why a certain individual has this trait. 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 indeed play a role in explaining adaptations.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Nanay, Bence
Keywords:	Selection, Cumulative selection, adaptation, adaptation explanation, environmental constraints
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Depositing User:	Bence Nanay
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2005
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:13
Item ID:	2514
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Date:	November 2005
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2514

Available Versions of this Item

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

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