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An Emerging Dilemma for Reciprocal Causation

Hazelwood, Caleb (2023) An Emerging Dilemma for Reciprocal Causation. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Among advocates and critics of the “extended evolutionary synthesis” (EES), “reciprocal causation” refers to the view that adaptive evolution is a bidirectional phenomenon, whereby organisms and environments impinge on each other through processes of niche construction and natural selection. I argue that reciprocal causation is incompatible with the view that natural selection is a metaphysically emergent causal process. The emergent character of selection places reciprocal causation on the horns of dilemma, and neither horn can rescue it. I conclude that proponents of the EES must abandon the claim that the process of natural selection features in cycles of reciprocal causation.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Hazelwood, Calebcaleb.hazelwood@gmail.com0000-0002-7421-3581
Additional Information: This manuscript is forthcoming in Philosophy of Science.
Keywords: natural selection extended evolutionary synthesis reciprocal causation evolutionary biology interventionism
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Depositing User: Caleb Hazelwood
Date Deposited: 17 Sep 2023 03:16
Last Modified: 17 Sep 2023 03:16
Item ID: 22553
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Date: 15 September 2023
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22553

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