Teleological Functional Explanations: A New Naturalist Synthesis
Capraru M.
June 2024Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Acta Biotheoretica
2024#72Issue 2
The etiological account of teleological function is beset by several difficulties, which I propose to solve by grafting onto the etiological theory a subordinated goal-contribution clause. This approach enables us to ascribe neither too many teleofunctions nor too few; to give a unitary, one-clause analysis that works just as well for teleological functions derived from Darwinian evolution, as for those derived from human intention; and finally, to save the etiological theory from falsification, by explaining how, in spite of appearances, the theory can allow for evolutionary function loss.
Concept of function , Function loss , Functions , Goal contribution , Natural selection , Teleological explanation
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