Causal Structure of Natural Selection

An examination of the causal structure of natural selection and its connections to general philosophy of science and metaphysics.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. The Contemporary Debate over Causation in Natural Selection; 2. Diagramming Evolving Systems; 3. New Perspectives on Causalism; 4. Moving the Debate Forward: Two Proposals; 5. Conclusion; References.

Summary

Arguments concerning the nature of causation in evolutionary theory have involved answers to a variety of independent questions – definitions of key evolutionary concepts like natural selection, fitness, and genetic drift; causation in multi-level systems. This Element disentangles questions surrounding the causal structure of natural selection.

Product details

• Authors: Charles H. Pence, Charles H. (Universite Catholique De Louvai Pence
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.09.2021
• EAN: 9781009100328
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0910032-8
• No. of pages: 75
• Series: Elements in the Philosophy of Biology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Evolution, Philosophy, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Evolution / Evolutionary biology