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Is heritability explanatorily useful?

Christopher H Pearson¹

¹University of Washington, Department of Philosophy, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. chpearsn@u.washington.edu <chpearsn@u.washington.edu>

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

|February 28, 2007

Summary

Heritability, a population measure, can explain individual genetic traits. Rethinking its role and using it as evidence supports genetic explanations for behaviors and traits.

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Philosophy of Science
Behavioral Science

Background:

Heritability is traditionally viewed as a population-level measure.
A philosophical challenge exists in applying population-level heritability to individual genetic explanations.
The role of heritability in causal and explanatory claims requires re-evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if heritability can be a useful genetic explanation for individual traits or behaviors.
To address the philosophical challenge of heritability as a population-level measure.
To reconceptualize the role of heritability in scientific explanation.

Main Methods:

Philosophical review of heritability concepts.
Analysis of causal and explanatory claims in genetics.
Argument for reconceiving conditions for genetic explanation.

Main Results:

Heritability can be useful for explaining individual genetic traits.
Reconceptualizing the conditions for genetic explanation is necessary.
Viewing heritability as an evidential tool aligns with standard causal inference methods.

Conclusions:

Heritability can support genetically based explanations of individual traits.
Modified understanding of genetic explanation conditions enhances heritability's utility.
Heritability serves as a valuable evidential tool in determining genetic causal factors.

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