The Structure of Biological Theories

The central thesis of this book is that the semantic conception is a logical methodologically and heuristically richer and more accurate account of scientific theorizing, and in particular of theorizing in evolutionary biology, than the more widely adhered to syntactic conception. In this book, the author outlines both the conceptions indicating the significant problems with the syntactic conception; explains and criticizes two influential syntactic-conception accounts of the structure of evolutionary theorizing. Thompson also argues that the semantic conception provides a richer and more accurate understanding than the syntactic conception of sociobiological explanation, of the testability of sociobiology, and of the role of culture and cognition in evolutionary explanations of human behavior.

About the author

Paul Thompson is Professor of Philosophy and Chairman of the Division of Humanities at the University of Toronto.

Product details

• Authors: Paul Thompson
• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 11.04.1989
• EAN: 9780887069338
• ISBN: 978-0-88706-933-8
• No. of pages: 160
• Weight: 372 g
• Series: SUNY Series in Philosophy; SUNY series in Philosophy; Suny Philosophy and Biology
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works