Denis M Walsh
Biographic Data
| ID | 5969770 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Denis M Walsh |
| GIVEN NAMES | Denis M |
| FAMILY NAME | Walsh |
| SIGNATURE | WALSH D M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Toronto |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9343-2341 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 145 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 15 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1996 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Piaget’s Paradox
Piaget’s Behaviour and Evolution (1976) sought to reconcile the view that organismal adaptiveness – in the form of equilibration – could contribute to human behavioural, cognitive, and epistemic evolution with the prevailing evolutionary orthodoxy of the time. He was particularly concerned to demonstrate that human behaviour, cognition, and knowledge acquisition could be drivers of human evolution. Piaget hypothesised constructive role for organi…
Variationalism and Individualism
Variationalism and Individualism
Action, program, metaphor
Metaphor is indispensable to science. Evelyn Fox Keller has argued argue that there is a commonality between the metaphors of gene action, and that of a genetic program. I suggest that the common thread is that of executive control or agency. The genetic program metaphor has progressively undergone a process that William James called ‘vicious abstractionism’, in which an abstract concept is erroneously made concrete; the metaphorical conceit has …
Entanglements between language, science, and worldviews
This introduction offers a synoptic overview of some of Evelyn Fox Keller's influential works on the role and nature of metaphor in science, followed by a short précis of each of the contributed papers
Descriptions and models
Mechanism and purpose
Not a Sure Thing
In evolutionary biology changes in population structure are explained by citing trait fitness distribution. I distinguish three interpretations of fitness explanations—the Two-Factor Model, the Single-Factor Model, and the Statistical Interpretation—and argue for the last of these. These interpretations differ in their degrees of causal commitment. The first two hold that trait fitness distribution causes population change. Trait fitness explanat…
The Pomp of Superfluous Causes
There are two competing interpretations of the modern synthesis theory of evolution: the dynamical (also know as ‘traditional’) and the statistical. The dynamical interpretation maintains that explanations offered under the auspices of the modern synthesis theory articulate the causes of evolution. It interprets selection and drift as causes of population change. The statistical interpretation holds that modern synthesis explanations merely cite …
Organisms as natural purposes
Evolutionary Essentialism
According to Aristotelian essentialism, the nature of an organism is constituted of a particular goal-directed disposition to produce an organism typical of its kind. This paper argues—against the prevailing orthodoxy—that essentialism of this sort is indispensable to evolutionary biology. The most powerful anti-essentialist arguments purport to show that the natures of organisms play no explanatory role in modern synthesis biology. I argue that …
Bookkeeping or Metaphysics? The Units of Selection Debate
Fit and Diversity
According to a prominent view of evolutionary theory, natural selection and the processes of development compete for explanatory relevance. Natural selection theory explains the evolution of biological form insofar as it is adaptive. Development is relevant to the explanation of form only insofar as it constrains the adaptation-promoting effects of selection. I argue that this view of evolutionary theory is erroneous. I outline an alternative, ac…
The Trials of Life
We distinguish dynamical and statistical interpretations of evolutionary theory. We argue that only the statistical interpretation preserves the presumed relation between natural selection and drift. On these grounds we claim that the dynamical conception of evolutionary theory as a theory of forces is mistaken. Selection and drift are not forces. Nor do selection and drift explanations appeal to the (sub-population-level) causes of population le…
Chasing shadows
Fitness and Function
According to historical theories of biological function, a trait's function is determined by natural selection in the past. I argue that, in addition to historical functions, ahistorical functions ought to be recognized. I propose a theory of biological function which accommodates both. The function of a trait is the way it contributes to fitness and fitness can only be determined relative to a selective regime. Therefore, the function of a trait…
The Trials of Life
We distinguish dynamical and statistical interpretations of evolutionary theory. We argue that only the statistical interpretation preserves the presumed relation between natural selection and drift. On these grounds we claim that the dynamical conception of evolutionary theory as a theory of forces is mistaken. Selection and drift are not forces. Nor do selection and drift explanations appeal to the (sub-population-level) causes of population le…
The Pomp of Superfluous Causes
There are two competing interpretations of the modern synthesis theory of evolution: the dynamical (also know as ‘traditional’) and the statistical. The dynamical interpretation maintains that explanations offered under the auspices of the modern synthesis theory articulate the causes of evolution. It interprets selection and drift as causes of population change. The statistical interpretation holds that modern synthesis explanations merely cite …
Not a Sure Thing
In evolutionary biology changes in population structure are explained by citing trait fitness distribution. I distinguish three interpretations of fitness explanations—the Two-Factor Model, the Single-Factor Model, and the Statistical Interpretation—and argue for the last of these. These interpretations differ in their degrees of causal commitment. The first two hold that trait fitness distribution causes population change. Trait fitness explanat…
Fitness and Function
According to historical theories of biological function, a trait's function is determined by natural selection in the past. I argue that, in addition to historical functions, ahistorical functions ought to be recognized. I propose a theory of biological function which accommodates both. The function of a trait is the way it contributes to fitness and fitness can only be determined relative to a selective regime. Therefore, the function of a trait…
Organisms as natural purposes
Evolutionary Essentialism
According to Aristotelian essentialism, the nature of an organism is constituted of a particular goal-directed disposition to produce an organism typical of its kind. This paper argues—against the prevailing orthodoxy—that essentialism of this sort is indispensable to evolutionary biology. The most powerful anti-essentialist arguments purport to show that the natures of organisms play no explanatory role in modern synthesis biology. I argue that …
Chasing shadows
Mechanism and purpose
Fit and Diversity
According to a prominent view of evolutionary theory, natural selection and the processes of development compete for explanatory relevance. Natural selection theory explains the evolution of biological form insofar as it is adaptive. Development is relevant to the explanation of form only insofar as it constrains the adaptation-promoting effects of selection. I argue that this view of evolutionary theory is erroneous. I outline an alternative, ac…
Action, program, metaphor
Metaphor is indispensable to science. Evelyn Fox Keller has argued argue that there is a commonality between the metaphors of gene action, and that of a genetic program. I suggest that the common thread is that of executive control or agency. The genetic program metaphor has progressively undergone a process that William James called ‘vicious abstractionism’, in which an abstract concept is erroneously made concrete; the metaphorical conceit has …
Bookkeeping or Metaphysics? The Units of Selection Debate
Fitness and Function
According to historical theories of biological function, a trait's function is determined by natural selection in the past. I argue that, in addition to historical functions, ahistorical functions ought to be recognized. I propose a theory of biological function which accommodates both. The function of a trait is the way it contributes to fitness and fitness can only be determined relative to a selective regime. Therefore, the function of a trait…
Chasing shadows
The Trials of Life
We distinguish dynamical and statistical interpretations of evolutionary theory. We argue that only the statistical interpretation preserves the presumed relation between natural selection and drift. On these grounds we claim that the dynamical conception of evolutionary theory as a theory of forces is mistaken. Selection and drift are not forces. Nor do selection and drift explanations appeal to the (sub-population-level) causes of population le…
Fit and Diversity
According to a prominent view of evolutionary theory, natural selection and the processes of development compete for explanatory relevance. Natural selection theory explains the evolution of biological form insofar as it is adaptive. Development is relevant to the explanation of form only insofar as it constrains the adaptation-promoting effects of selection. I argue that this view of evolutionary theory is erroneous. I outline an alternative, ac…
Bookkeeping or Metaphysics? The Units of Selection Debate
Organisms as natural purposes
Evolutionary Essentialism
According to Aristotelian essentialism, the nature of an organism is constituted of a particular goal-directed disposition to produce an organism typical of its kind. This paper argues—against the prevailing orthodoxy—that essentialism of this sort is indispensable to evolutionary biology. The most powerful anti-essentialist arguments purport to show that the natures of organisms play no explanatory role in modern synthesis biology. I argue that …
The Pomp of Superfluous Causes
There are two competing interpretations of the modern synthesis theory of evolution: the dynamical (also know as ‘traditional’) and the statistical. The dynamical interpretation maintains that explanations offered under the auspices of the modern synthesis theory articulate the causes of evolution. It interprets selection and drift as causes of population change. The statistical interpretation holds that modern synthesis explanations merely cite …
Not a Sure Thing
In evolutionary biology changes in population structure are explained by citing trait fitness distribution. I distinguish three interpretations of fitness explanations—the Two-Factor Model, the Single-Factor Model, and the Statistical Interpretation—and argue for the last of these. These interpretations differ in their degrees of causal commitment. The first two hold that trait fitness distribution causes population change. Trait fitness explanat…
Mechanism and purpose
Descriptions and models
Variationalism and Individualism
Variationalism and Individualism
Action, program, metaphor
Metaphor is indispensable to science. Evelyn Fox Keller has argued argue that there is a commonality between the metaphors of gene action, and that of a genetic program. I suggest that the common thread is that of executive control or agency. The genetic program metaphor has progressively undergone a process that William James called ‘vicious abstractionism’, in which an abstract concept is erroneously made concrete; the metaphorical conceit has …
Entanglements between language, science, and worldviews
This introduction offers a synoptic overview of some of Evelyn Fox Keller's influential works on the role and nature of metaphor in science, followed by a short précis of each of the contributed papers
Piaget’s Paradox
Piaget’s Behaviour and Evolution (1976) sought to reconcile the view that organismal adaptiveness – in the form of equilibration – could contribute to human behavioural, cognitive, and epistemic evolution with the prevailing evolutionary orthodoxy of the time. He was particularly concerned to demonstrate that human behaviour, cognition, and knowledge acquisition could be drivers of human evolution. Piaget hypothesised constructive role for organi…
Epistemology (12 works) · Philosophy (12 works) · Computer Science (10 works) · Philosophy and History of Science (9 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation (8 works) · Biology (7 works) · Evolution and Genetic Dynamics (6 works) · Natural selection (6 works) · Psychology (6 works)