Capraru, Mihnea (2024) Teleological functional explanations: a new naturalist synthesis. Acta Biotheoretica, 72. ISSN 1572-8358

Text (final draft as published) B1025CBE-F3F7-11EE-BC0C-EFF23462D78C.pdf Download (126kB)

Abstract

The etiological account of teleological function is beset by several difficulties, which I propose to solve by grafting onto the etiological theory a subordinated goal-contribution clause. This approach enables us to ascribe neither too many teleofunctions nor too few; to give a unitary, one-clause analysis that works just as well for teleological functions derived from Darwinian evolution, as for those derived from human intention; and finally, to save the etiological theory from falsification, by explaining how, in spite of appearances, the theory can allow for evolutionary function loss.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Capraru, Mihnea
Keywords:	teleofunctions goal contribution cybernetics Millikan function loss etiological theories of function fitness intentional functions artifacts natural selection normativity
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Technology
Depositing User:	Mihnea Capraru
Date Deposited:	17 May 2026 10:59
Last Modified:	17 May 2026 10:59
Item ID:	29672
Journal or Publication Title:	Acta Biotheoretica
Publisher:	Springer
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10441-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10441-024-09480-2
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Technology
Date:	2024
Volume:	72
ISSN:	1572-8358
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29672

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item