Evolution and the Machinery of Chance: Philosophy, Probability, and Scientific Practice in Biology

Fitness is an essential concept in evolutionary theory, but philosophers of biology often define it as an average of the fitnesses of individual members of the population. Marshall Abrams argues that this approach conflicts with the roles that fitness is supposed to play in evolutionary theory and with the ways that evolutionary biologists use fitness concepts in empirical research. He suggests that the fitnesses of traits that are the basis of natural selection cannot be defined in terms of the fitnesses of actual members of populations, but rather an overall population-environment system. This insight has broad significance for thinking about the metaphysics of biological evolution and its relations to empirical research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Fitness concepts play a crucial role in evolutionary theory, shaping the dynamics of biological populations. Natural selection, driven by fitness differences, leads to changes in the distribution of traits within populations. Philosophers of biology often define fitness as the average of the fitnesses of individual members of the population possessing a particular trait. However, Marshall Abrams challenges this conventional view, arguing that it conflicts with the roles fitness is supposed to play in evolutionary theory and the ways evolutionary biologists employ fitness concepts in empirical research.

Abrams proposes a novel perspective that emphasizes the overall population-environment system as the basis of trait fitnesses. He argues that the fitnesses of traits that underlie natural selection cannot be defined in terms of the fitnesses of individual organisms living in specific environmental conditions. Instead, trait fitnesses arise from the interactions between traits and the environment, encompassing the collective effects of genetic variation, environmental variation, and other factors.

By distinguishing different classes of fitness concepts and their respective roles in evolutionary biology, Abrams reveals the coherence and consistency of evolutionary biologists' diverse uses of fitness concepts. He shows that these uses make sense together and align with the idea that fitness differences drive evolution. Abrams's insight has far-reaching implications, providing a general framework for understanding the metaphysics of biological evolution and its relationship to empirical research.

In conclusion, fitness concepts are fundamental to evolutionary theory, and their interpretation and application require careful consideration. Abrams's innovative view challenges the conventional understanding of fitness and offers a more comprehensive framework for understanding trait fitnesses and their role in driving evolution. By recognizing the broader context in which fitness operates, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the complexities and dynamics of biological populations and the processes that shape their evolution.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226826615