Ecological Kinds and Ecological Laws

Bibliographic Data

ID10707820
AuthorsGregory M Mikkelson (0000-0002-5450-1914, corresponding author)
Year2003
Volume70
Issue5
Pages1390-1400
Publication date2003-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1086/377416
OpenAlexW1987410558
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited14

Ecologists typically invoke “law-like” generalizations, ranging over “structural” and/or “functional” kinds, in order to explain generalizations about “historical” kinds (such as biological taxa)—rather than vice versa. This practice is justified, since structural and functional kinds tend to correlate better with important ecological phenomena than do historical kinds. I support these contentions with three recent case studies. In one sense, therefore, ecology is, and should be, more nomothetic, or law-oriented, than idiographic, or historically oriented. This conclusion challenges several recent philosophical claims about the nature of ecological science

Biology · Economics · Epistemology · Nomothetic · Nomothetic and idiographic · Order (exchange) · Sociology · Ecology · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Science and Climate Studies

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