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Methodological problems in evolutionary biology. VII. The species plague.
Acta Biotheoretica
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Philosophers and biologists debate if species are individuals or sets. Conceptual analysis reveals ambiguity in key terms, suggesting disagreements stem from language, not facts, potentially resolving evolutionary controversies.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- Evolutionary Biology
- Conceptual Analysis
Background:
- Recent philosophical and evolutionary biology debates center on whether species should be defined as individuals or sets.
- A decade of discussion has not resolved this fundamental question regarding species definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the conceptual underpinnings of the species as individuals versus sets debate.
- To clarify ambiguous terminology within the species individuation discourse.
- To propose new avenues for philosophical and biological research based on conceptual explication.
Main Methods:
- Involved detailed conceptual analysis of key terms such as 'individuation', 'evolutionary species', 'spatiotemporal restrictedness', and 'individual'.
- Focused on explicating the meanings and implications of these terms in the context of species definitions.
Main Results:
- Identified significant ambiguity in core concepts, including 'individuation' and 'evolutionary species'.
- Demonstrated that current disagreements may arise from semantic issues rather than empirical or theoretical conflicts.
- Highlighted the potential for conceptual clarification to resolve long-standing debates.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing the ambiguity of key terms is crucial for resolving the species as individuals versus sets debate.
- Conceptual clarification can redirect philosophical research and address the conceptual roots of controversies in evolutionary biology.