The Pseudo-Darwinism of the Selectionist Models of the Development of Science Cover Image

Pseudodarwinizm selekcjonistycznych modeli rozwoju nauki
The Pseudo-Darwinism of the Selectionist Models of the Development of Science

Author(s): Michał Jakub Wagner
Subject(s): Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Philosophical Traditions
Published by: Uniwersytet Warszawski - Wydział Filozofii i Socjologii, Instytut Filozofii
Keywords: Darwinism; David Hull; Stephen Toulmin; epistemic evolution; population thinking; evolution of science; evolutionary epistemology of theories

Summary/Abstract: The paper analyzes the incompatibility of Evolutionary Epistemology of Theories (EET) with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The argument consists of four parts, each addressing a specific problem with EET and offering examples. Firstly, advocates of EET frequently misapply Darwin’s theory by asserting that evolution is teleological, which is at odds with Darwinism. Secondly, the “universal Darwinism” underlying EET is inconsistent with the relativism present in Darwin’s the-ory. Thirdly, because of the relativistic character of Darwin’s theory, philosophies that appeal to it need to provide additional justification for using Darwin’s ideas outside of biology, which EET fails to do. Finally, the paper demonstrates that the Darwinocentric historiography proposed by EET underappreciates neo-Lamarckism, whose model of evolution is closer to that used in EET.

  • Issue Year: 30/2022
  • Issue No: 3 (119)
  • Page Range: 5-32
  • Page Count: 28
  • Language: Polish