Inclusive Fitness and the Maximizing-Agent Analogy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8399403 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Johannes Martens (Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 875-905 |
| Publication date | 2017-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0882 • E-ISSN: 1464-3537 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjps/axw003 |
| OpenAlex | W2462252147 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 28 |
In social evolution theory, biological individuals are often represented on the model of rational agents, that is, as if they were ‘seeking’ to maximize their own (expected) reproductive success. In the 1990s, important criticisms of this mode of thinking were made by Brian Skyrms ([1994], [1996]) and Elliott Sober ([1998]), who both argued that ‘rational agent’ models can lead to incorrect predictions when there are positive correlations between individuals’ phenotypes. In this article, I argue that one model of rational choice—namely, Savage’s model ([1954])—can actually be vindicated in evolutionary biology, provided that the pay-offs are computed in inclusive fitness terms. I also show that the use of this model is better avoided when pay-offs are non-additive, or when certain causal influences (due to manipulative behaviours) affect the outcome of natural selection. The result is a partial rehabilitation of this mode of thinking, conditional on both the additivity of the pay-off structure and the absence of any form of manipulation or coercion. 1 Introduction2 When Natural Selection and Rational Deliberation Part Ways3 A Simple Solution: Redefining the Pay-offs in Inclusive Fitness Terms4 Sober on Inclusive Fitness Maximization5 Inclusive Fitness with Non-additive Pay-offs6 Causal Influences and the Savage– Hamilton Model6.1 Reciprocity and partner choice6.2 Coercion and manipulation7 ConclusionAppendix
Analogy · Biology · Coercion (linguistics) · Deliberation · Economics · Epistemology · Group selection · Inclusive fitness · Kin selection · Mathematical economics · Natural selection · Outcome (game theory) · Rational agent · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology) · Selection (genetic algorithm) · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Ecology · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology
The Selfish Gene
The Foundations of Causal Decision Theory
Causal decision theory
On Optimal Use of a Patchy Environment
The genetical evolution of social behaviour. I
The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism
Evolution and the Theory of Games
The Stag Hunt and the Evolution of Social Structure
Evolution of the Social Contract
Darwin Meets the Logic of Decision
Altruism, Inclusive Fitness, and “The Logic of Decision”
Conditional Excluded Middle without the Limit Assumption
| Citations per year | 0.43 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2019 - 2019 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |