Scaffold
A Causal Concept for Evolutionary Explanations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10704392 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Celso Neto (0000-0003-4666-3857, University of Exeter, corresponding author), LETITIA MEYNELL (0000-0001-8467-5598, Dalhousie University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1224-1233 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/psa.2023.14 |
| OpenAlex | W4321251690 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 20 |
The concept of scaffold is widespread in science and increasingly common in evolutionary biology. While this concept figures in causal explanations, it is not clear what scaffolds are and what role they play in those explanations. Here we present evolutionary scaffolding explanation as a distinct type of explanatory strategy, distinguishing it from other types of evolutionary explanation. By doing so, we clarify the meaning of “scaffold” as a causal concept and its potential contribution to accounts of evolutionary novelty and major transitions
Biology · Cognitive science · Epistemology · Evolutionary biology · Evolutionary theory · Meaning (existential) · Modern evolutionary synthesis · Novelty · Scaffold · Computer Science · Evolution and Genetic Dynamics · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Psychology · Social Psychology
Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection
In Defense of Explanatory Ecumenism
The Units of Selection
Evolvability, Dispositions, and Intrinsicality
Irreversible (One-hit) and Reversible (Sustaining) Causation
Lineage Explanations
What Evolvability Really Is
Evolutionary Transitions in Individuality by Endogenization of Scaffolded Properties
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |