Ratti, Emanuele and Germain, Pierre-Luc (2021) A Relic of Design: Against Proper Functions in Biology. Biology & Philosophy. ISSN 1572-8404
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Abstract
The notion of biological function is fraught with difficulties - intrinsically and irremediably so, we argue. The physiological practice of functional ascription originates from a time when organisms were thought to be designed and remained largely unchanged since. In a secularized worldview, this creates a paradox which
accounts of functions as selected effect attempt to resolve. This attempt, we argue, misses its target in physiology and it brings problems of its own. Instead, we propose that a better solution to the conundrum of biological functions is to abandon the notion altogether, a prospect not only less daunting than it appears, but arguably the natural continuation of the naturalisation of biology.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | biological function; selected effect; evolutionary biology; physiology; | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics |
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| Depositing User: | Dr Emanuele Ratti | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 27 Jun 2022 18:09 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 27 Jun 2022 18:09 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 20807 | |||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Biology & Philosophy | |||||||||
| Publisher: | Springer | |||||||||
| Official URL: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10539-0... | |||||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-022-09856-z | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics |
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| Date: | 2021 | |||||||||
| ISSN: | 1572-8404 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20807 |
Available Versions of this Item
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A Relic of Design: Against Proper Functions in Biology. (deposited 29 Apr 2021 15:19)
- A Relic of Design: Against Proper Functions in Biology. (deposited 27 Jun 2022 18:09) [Currently Displayed]
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