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Physical explanations in evolutionary biology.

Margarida Hermida1, James Ladyman2

  • 1Philosophy Department GW, University of Salzburg, Franziskanergasse 1, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. margarida.hermida@plus.ac.at.

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Biology is not entirely separate from physics, especially in evolutionary biology. Physical laws and parameters significantly influence biological adaptations and evolutionary events, from deep-sea life to quantum effects in respiration.

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AutonomyBiologyEvolutionExplanationPhysicsReduction

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Physics

Background:

  • Biology is often considered autonomous from physics.
  • However, this paper challenges the notion of complete explanatory independence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To argue that biology, particularly evolutionary biology, is not explanatorily independent from physics.
  • To demonstrate the pervasive role of physical explanations in biology.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the philosophical consensus on biology-physics autonomy.
  • Presentation of three case studies from evolutionary biology.

Main Results:

  • Case 1: Deep-sea invertebrates adapt physical properties to selective pressures imposed by physical parameters.
  • Case 2: Changes in water viscosity are linked to the evolution of multicellularity.
  • Case 3: Quantum tunneling in respiration highlights quantum physics' relevance to eukaryotic sex evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Physical explanations are crucial and pervasive in evolutionary biology.
  • Biology's autonomy from physics is limited, especially in explaining evolutionary phenomena.
  • Physics provides essential frameworks for understanding biological adaptations and macroevolutionary events.