The Evolution of Theoretically Useful Traits

Author: Stout R.

Source: Biology and Philosophy, Volume 13, Number 4, October 1998 , pp. 529-540(12)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The purely theoretical notion of fitness or optimality that is employed for instance in optimization theory has come under attack from those who think that only a more historically based notion of fitness could have a central role in evolutionary explanation. They argue that the key notion is proven usefulness rather than theoretical usefulness. This paper articulates a notion of theoretical usefulness and defends its role in functional evolutionary explanations.

Keywords: adaptation; optimization; fitness; functional; historical; evolutionary explanation; Wright; Millikan

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Oriel College, University of Oxford, Oxford Ox1 4FW, UK

Publication date: 1998-10-01