The Structure and Confirmation of Evolutionary Theory

(Hardback)

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Evolutionary theory has long been debated, not only on religious grounds, but in terms of its usefulness as a scientific model. A common objection is that the theory does not fit the hypothetical-deductive standard used in the physical sciences and is therefore not good science. In this study, Lloyd contends with the scientific and philosophical critics of evolutionary theory. Employing the same type of semantic analysis that has been applied to physical theory, she offers an alternative view of evolutionary theory that shows biological and physical theories to be structurally similar. The author begins by reviewing recent debates concerning the existence or non-existence of evolutionary laws and the possibility of axiomizing evolutionary theory. The central discussion of Lloyd's work revolves around several problems that have not been resolved by other methods. These are, first, the problem of which units or entities are selected in nature; second, the problem of reductionism in genetics; and third, the problem of confirmation. Developing a view of evolutionary theory based on mathematical models, she uses this framework to describe a wide variety of evolutionary subtheories. She tests her analysis by comparing it with other approaches and applying it to problematic cases. Finally, she presents a view of confirmation appropriate to a model-oriented conception of theories. This original study explores some significant connections between science and philosophy and adds to our understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge.

Reviews

In this rather esoteric treatment, Lloyd advocates using the semantic view of theory structure to understand evolutionary theory' and to illuminate the roles of different sorts of evidence in confirming evolutionary claims.' The book is written for advanced students of philosophy and biology but gives instructions for the best approach to understanding for those undergraduates, graduates, and faculty with little or no biology background. Lloyd gives a view of the structure of evolutionary theory based on mathematical models and makes use of this framework to describe a wide variety of subtheories. An analysis of the makeup of evolutionary models is used to clarify some vexing units of the problem of selection. There are 28 pages of helpful chapter-by-chapter notes and a well-formulated bibliography and index. An adjunct to information useful to the advanced student of contemporary evolutionary theory.-Choice
"In this rather esoteric treatment, Lloyd advocates using the semantic view of theory structure to understand evolutionary theory' and to illuminate the roles of different sorts of evidence in confirming evolutionary claims.' The book is written for advanced students of philosophy and biology but gives instructions for the best approach to understanding for those undergraduates, graduates, and faculty with little or no biology background. Lloyd gives a view of the structure of evolutionary theory based on mathematical models and makes use of this framework to describe a wide variety of subtheories. An analysis of the makeup of evolutionary models is used to clarify some vexing units of the problem of selection. There are 28 pages of helpful chapter-by-chapter notes and a well-formulated bibliography and index. An adjunct to information useful to the advanced student of contemporary evolutionary theory."-Choice

Author Bio

ELISABETH A. LLOYD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley.