Proliferation as a Factor Maintaining Human Evolution in the Light of Paul K. Feyerabend’s Early Philosophy
Journal Title: Filozoficzne Aspekty Genezy - Year 2013, Vol 10, Issue 0
Abstract
In his early philosophy, Feyerabend claimed that the interaction between the principles of proliferation and tenacity may increase the tendency towards useful biological mutations. He also maintained that the interplay between the two principles may be the only possible way of preventing the human species from stagnation. I try to rectify some problems of Feyerabend’s approach. The claim that it is possible to increase the tendency towards useful biological mutations by means of generating and defending hypotheses seemingly implies Lamarckism, i.e. the theory of directed variation. However, it could also be incorporated into Darwinism, i.e. the theory of undirected variation (it is suggested by the phrase “may increase”). Both approaches lead to serious difficulties: Lamarckism is rejected by the mainstream biology; Darwinian adaptive changes are very slow. Biologically useful effects of interplay between proliferation and tenacity may come out after a very long time. Feyerabendian conviction that interaction between proliferation and tenacity may be the only possible way of preventing our species from stagnation should be understood in the light of human cultural evolution, and the latter is of course Lamarckian.
Authors and Affiliations
Krzysztof Kilian
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP131473
- DOI -
- Views 96
- Downloads 0
Wprowadzenie do arysto-tomizmu
Recenzja książki: Piotr LENARTOWICZ i Jolanta KOSZTEYN, Wprowadzenie do filozofii, wyd. 4., Petrus, Kraków 2012, s. 184.
Is Darwinism Atheistic? An Examination of the Beliefs and Practices of Charles Darwin
During the nineteenth century Charles Darwin introduced his theory of evolution by natural selection. His goal was to show that life was not the result of divine intervention, but the work of blind naturalistic processes...
Tora i nauka według Aviezera
Recenzja książki: Nathan AVIEZER, Fossils and Faith: Understanding Torah and Science, KTAV Publishing House, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey 2001, s. 271.
Stephena C. Meyera argument na rzecz projektu w przyrodzie a warunek Jodkowskiego
Uznani naukowcy rzadko wdają się w dyskusje z uczonymi, którzy w naukach przyrodniczych proponują wyjaśnienia odwołujące się do działania świadomej przyczyny inteligentnej. Argumentacja tych drugich często ogranicza się...
From Scientific Method to Methodological Naturalism: The Evolution of an Idea
Authors analyze the validity of methodological naturalism as a method of natural science. Methodological naturalism claims that science should invoke only natural causes, omitting references to the supernatural beings, s...