Is Natural Selection a Chimera? Reflections on the 'Survival' of a Principle

Bibliographic Data

ID2489115
AuthorsGláucia Oliveira Da Silva (0000-0002-5407-8116, Universidade Federal Fluminense, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume14
Issue3
Publication date2017-12-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueVibrant Virtual Brazilian Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1809-4341 • E-ISSN: 1809-4341
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/1809-43412017v14n3p001
OpenAlexW2775117850
SCIELO_PIDS1809-43412017000300200
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited15

My objective is to discuss the persistence of the notion of natural selection in the biological sciences, exploring the fact that: (1) this notion, just like the term culture in anthropology, is historically an inaugural concept in its particular scientific field, and, insofar as both possess a value of heuristic delimitation, both thus came to be considered as explanatory concepts, although today they may be more widely accepted as descriptive in kind; (2) this persistence seems to be equally linked to the fact that the term combines randomness and teleology, but without foregrounding the inherent contradiction; (3) the anthropomorphic metaphors generally used in the description of biological processes, by attributing intentionality to beings lacking in self-determination, presume the existence of a nature defined by processes oriented towards precise ends, endorsing the finalism that, I believe, underlies the idea of natural selection; (4) and, finally, I think that 'culture' and 'natural selection' correspond to disciplinary labels - for social anthropology and biology respectively - that arose in Victorian Britain, as defined by the Great Divide, but they no longer have explanatory power

Biology · Contingency · Contradiction · Discipline · Epistemology · Explanatory power · Foregrounding · Intentionality · Natural (archaeology · Natural selection · Naturalism · Persistence (discontinuity · Selection (genetic algorithm · Social science · Sociology · Teleology · Computer Science · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Social Representations and Identity

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