The Levels of Selection

In this paper Wimsatt's analysis of units of selection is taken as defining the units of selection question. A definition of levels of selection is offered and it is shown that the levels of selection question is quite different from the units of selection question. Some of the relations between units and levels are briefly explored. It is argued that the levels of selection question is the question relevant to explanatory concerns, and it is suggested that it is the question relevant to ontological concerns.

[1]  W. Wimsatt.  The Units of Selection and the Structure of the Multi-Level Genome , 1980, PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association.

[2]  D. Hull.  Individuality and Selection , 1980 .

[3]  Robert N. Brandon,et al.  A Structural Description of Evolutionary Theory , 1980, PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association.

[4]  Robert N. Brandon,et al.  Adaptation and evolutionary theory , 1978 .

[5]  William C. Wimsatt,et al.  Reductionistic Research Strategies and Their Biases in the Units of Selection Controversy , 1982 .

[6]  Elliott Sober,et al.  Holism, Individualism, and the Units of Selection , 1980, PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association.

[7]  L. C. Dunn,et al.  The Evolutionary Dynamics of a Polymorphism in the House Mouse. , 1960, Genetics.

[8]  John H. Beatty,et al.  The Propensity Interpretation of Fitness , 1979, Philosophy of Science.

[9]  R. Lewontin.  The Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change , 1974 .