The Evolution of Darwinism: Selection, Adaptation and Progress in Evolutionary Biology

354 Pages·2004·1.69 MB·English

by  Timothy Shanahan

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TheEvolutionofDarwinism
Selection,Adaptation,andProgressinEvolutionaryBiology
“Howextremelystupidofmenottohavethoughtofthat!”
ThomasHenryHuxley,uponfirstencountering
Darwin’stheoryofevolutionbynaturalselection
Alas, the apparent simplicity of Darwin’s theory is deceptive. From
the very beginning it has been subject to differing interpretations,
andevennowprofessionalopinionissharplydividedonarangeof
fundamentalissues,amongthemthenatureofselection,thescope
ofadaptation,andthequestionofevolutionaryprogress.Thisbook
tracestheseissuesfromDarwin’sownevolvingquestforunderstand-
ing to ongoing contemporary debates, and explores their implica-
tionsforthegreatestquestionsofall:wherewecamefrom,whowe
are,andwherewemightbeheading.
Written in a clear and nontechnical style, this book will be of
interest to students, scholars, and anyone wishing to understand
thedevelopmentofevolutionarytheory.
TimothyShanahanisProfessorofPhilosophyatLoyolaMarymount
University.
ToEd,Ernan,andPhil,forshowingmehow.
The Evolution of Darwinism
Selection, Adaptation, and Progress
in Evolutionary Biology
TIMOTHY SHANAHAN
LoyolaMarymountUniversity
  
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge  , UK
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521834131
© Timothy Shanahan 2004
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of
relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place
without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
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“Whatamagnificentviewonecantakeoftheworld:Astronomical
causes,modifiedbyunknownones,causechangesingeography&
changesofclimatesuperaddedtochangeofclimatefromphysical
causes–thesesuperinducechangesofformintheorganicworld,
asadaptation&thesechangingaffecteachother,&theirbodies,by
certainlawsofharmonykeepperfectinthesethemselves–instincts
alter,reasonisformed,&theworldpeopledwithMyriadsofdistinct
forms from a period short of eternity to the present time, to the
future–Howfargranderthanideafromcrampedimaginationthat
God created....How beneath dignity of him, who is supposed to
havesaidlettherebelight&thereislight.”
–CharlesDarwin,DNotebook,pp.36–37[6August1838]

Contents
Introduction page1
ListentoYourMother 1
“HowExtremelyStupidNottoHaveThoughtofThat!” 2
Selection,Perfection,Direction 3
ScienceandReligion 4
MethodologicalConfessions 6
Darwin’sLongShadow 6
i: selection
1 DarwinandNaturalSelection 11
Introduction 11
NaturalSelection 22
PossibilitiesandBoundaries 32
Summary:DarwinandNaturalSelection 35
2 TheGroupSelectionControversy 37
Introduction 37
ThePopulationProblem 39
GroupSelectionUnderFire 49
GroupSelectionResurgent 54
Summary:TheGroupSelectionControversy 61
3 ForWhoseGoodDoesNaturalSelectionWork? 63
Introduction 63
TheEvolutionaryProblemofAltruism 64
GenesversusOrganisms 66
GeneSelectionversusGeneSelectionism 69
CausalityandRepresentation 72
vii
viii Contents
AssigningFunctionalRoles 76
PluralismandHolism 81
Summary:ForWhoseGoodDoesNaturalSelectionWork? 88
ii: adaptation
4 Darwin(andOthers)onBiologicalPerfection 93
Introduction 93
BiologicalPerfectionandImperfectioninPre-Darwinian
NaturalHistory 94
BiologicalPerfectionintheOriginofSpecies 99
WallaceonAdaptation 105
DarwinandWallaceonthePowerofSelection 108
Summary:Darwin(andOthers)onBiologicalPerfection 113
5 AdaptationAfterDarwin 115
Introduction 115
EvolutionaryAlternativesAfterDarwin 116
Wright’sShiftingBalanceTheory 124
AdaptationintheModernSynthesis 130
Critiquing“theAdaptationistProgramme” 137
Summary:AdaptationAfterDarwin 142
6 Adaptation(ism)andItsLimits 143
Introduction 143
“Adaptation” 144
Adaptationism 151
EmpiricalAdaptationism 153
ExplanatoryAdaptationism 162
MethodologicalAdaptationism 165
Summary:Adaptation(ism)andItsLimits 168
iii: progress
7 DarwinonEvolutionaryProgress 173
Introduction 173
Darwin’sEvolvingViewofProgress 176
EvolutionaryProgressintheOriginofSpecies(1859–1872) 180
ProgressinTheDescentofMan(1871) 192
WasDarwin’sViewCogent? 193
Summary:DarwinonEvolutionaryProgress 194
8 EvolutionaryProgressfromDarwintoDawkins 196
Introduction 196
JulianHuxley’sProgressiveEvolutionism 197
Simpson’sPluralisticConceptionofProgress 203
GouldonEvolutionaryProgress 207