Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first at... more Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first attempts to clarify the different roles of concepts used in a scientific theory. The second concerns the role of unification in scientific explanation and scientific progress. Both discussions have followed separate, independent paths. In this paper, we examine the interrelatedness of these two notions by focusing on classical particle mechanics and the theory of natural selection. We claim that they are interconnected in two distinct ways. On the one hand, a theory’s unifying power relies on the presence of some theoretical concepts that apply to heterogeneous phenomena through the assumption of a (sometimes unstated) general principle. On the other hand, a sensible application of the theoreticity criterion to these integrating concepts requires the unification not being spurious. We conclude that a correct determination of the theoreticty status requires analyzing how specific applications of different parts of a theory interact with each other.
Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first at... more Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first attempts to clarify the different roles of concepts used in a scientific theory. The second concerns the role of unification in scientific explanation and scientific progress. Both discussions have followed separate, independent paths. In this paper, we examine the interrelatedness of these two notions by focusing on classical particle mechanics and the theory of natural selection. We claim that they are interconnected in two distinct ways. On the one hand, a theory's unifying power relies on the presence of some theoretical concepts that apply to heterogeneous phenomena through the assumption of a (sometimes unstated) general principle. On the other hand, a sensible application of the theoreticity criterion to these integrating concepts requires the unification not being spurious. We conclude that a correct determination of the theoreticty status requires analyzing how specific applications of different parts of a theory interact with each other.
The chapter about hybridism written by Darwin falls in the cluster of The Origin of Species which... more The chapter about hybridism written by Darwin falls in the cluster of The Origin of Species which deals with the main difficulties of the theory of descent with modification through natural selection. Darwin's goal in analyzing the phenomenon of hybridism was to debate the validity of the existence of a fundamental distinction between species and varieties; thus, this discussion addresses an integral part of the so-called species problem, which includes a set of questions about the definition of the concept of species, that is, of what a species is. In this chapter, we analyze the historical background of this debate, from Linnaeus to Kölreuter and Gärtner, and discuss the structure and arguments present in Origin's Chapter VIII, in which Darwin tackles the problem at hand.
Based on a statistical analysis of his experiments, which was a novelty for the tradition of "hor... more Based on a statistical analysis of his experiments, which was a novelty for the tradition of "horticulturalists" (or "plant breeders") as well as for the tradition of "hybridists", and seeking a "generally applicable law governing the formation and development of hybrids" (MENDEL 1865: 3), Mendel states "the law of development/evolution found for Pisum" (MENDEL 1865: 32). When he tries to provide the "foundation and explanation" (MENDEL 1865: 32) of the law of formation and development of hybrids, he does it in terms of the production and behavior of egg cells and pollen cells, and, ultimately, in terms of the nature and behavior of what he calls "elements" (MENDEL 1865: 41) or “cell elements” (MENDEL 1865: 42). Moreover, Mendel recognizes the existence not just of hybrids that behave like those of Pisum – i.e., of “variable hybrids” – but also of hybrids that “remain perfectly like the hybrid and continue constant in their offspring” (MENDEL 1865: 38) and “acquire the status of new species” (MENDEL 1865: 40) – i.e., of “constant hybrids” (MENDEL 1869: 27–28, 31). The law that would govern the behavior of constant hybrids would also find its foundation and explanation in terms of the nature and behavior of elements (or cell elements). Mendel’s hybridism consists of two theories: a theory that moves on a more “empirical” level, according to Schleiden’s first “special guiding maxim”, the “Maxim of the history of development/evolution” (SCHLEIDEN 1849: 141, 142, 146), which can be called “Mendel’s theory of the development/evolution of hybrids” (DEH), and a theory that moves on a more “theoretical” level, according to Schleiden’s second “special guiding maxim”, the “Maxim of the autonomy of cells in plants” (SCHLEIDEN 1849: 146, 148), which can be called “Mendel’s theory of the cellular foundation of the development/evolution of hybrids” (CFH). The paper aims to present an analysis of these two theories and their intertheoretical relationships, carried out within the framework of the so-called Metatheoretical Structuralism (BALZER, MOULINES & SNEED 1987).
... | Ayuda. La teoría del gen y la red teórica de la genética. Autores: Pablo Lorenzano; Localiz... more ... | Ayuda. La teoría del gen y la red teórica de la genética. Autores: Pablo Lorenzano; Localización: Desarrollos actuales de la metateoría estructuralista : problemas y discusiones / coord. por PabloLorenzano, José A. Díez, 2002, ISBN 987-9173-72-4 , pags. 263-304. ...
ABSTRACT The aim of this communication is to analyze the status of the Hardy-Weinberg law within ... more ABSTRACT The aim of this communication is to analyze the status of the Hardy-Weinberg law within (classical) population genetics. The analysis will be carried out with the notions of the structuralist view of theories, specially those of fundamental law or guide-principle, specialization, and special law, having as a background a rational reconstruction of (classical) population genetics – sketched in this communication – made within the framework of such a metatheory.
The question posed by the title is usually answered by saying that the "synthesis" between the th... more The question posed by the title is usually answered by saying that the "synthesis" between the theory of evolution by natural selection and classical genetics, which took place in 1930s-40s, would have taken place much earlier if Darwin had been aware of Mendel and his work. What is more, it nearly happened: it would have been enough if Darwin had cut the pages of the offprint of Mendel's work that was in his library and read them! Or, if Mendel had come across Darwin in London or paid him a visit at his house in the outskirts! (on occasion of Mendel's trip in 1862 to that city). The aim of the present paper is to provide elements for quite a different answer, based on further historical evidence, especially on Mendel's works, some of which mention Darwins's studies.
Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first at... more Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first attempts to clarify the different roles of concepts used in a scientific theory. The second concerns the role of unification in scientific explanation and scientific progress. Both discussions have followed separate, independent paths. In this paper, we examine the interrelatedness of these two notions by focusing on classical particle mechanics and the theory of natural selection. We claim that they are interconnected in two distinct ways. On the one hand, a theory’s unifying power relies on the presence of some theoretical concepts that apply to heterogeneous phenomena through the assumption of a (sometimes unstated) general principle. On the other hand, a sensible application of the theoreticity criterion to these integrating concepts requires the unification not being spurious. We conclude that a correct determination of the theoreticty status requires analyzing how specific applications of different parts of a theory interact with each other.
Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first at... more Theoreticity and unification are two main issues discussed in philosophy of science. The first attempts to clarify the different roles of concepts used in a scientific theory. The second concerns the role of unification in scientific explanation and scientific progress. Both discussions have followed separate, independent paths. In this paper, we examine the interrelatedness of these two notions by focusing on classical particle mechanics and the theory of natural selection. We claim that they are interconnected in two distinct ways. On the one hand, a theory's unifying power relies on the presence of some theoretical concepts that apply to heterogeneous phenomena through the assumption of a (sometimes unstated) general principle. On the other hand, a sensible application of the theoreticity criterion to these integrating concepts requires the unification not being spurious. We conclude that a correct determination of the theoreticty status requires analyzing how specific applications of different parts of a theory interact with each other.
The chapter about hybridism written by Darwin falls in the cluster of The Origin of Species which... more The chapter about hybridism written by Darwin falls in the cluster of The Origin of Species which deals with the main difficulties of the theory of descent with modification through natural selection. Darwin's goal in analyzing the phenomenon of hybridism was to debate the validity of the existence of a fundamental distinction between species and varieties; thus, this discussion addresses an integral part of the so-called species problem, which includes a set of questions about the definition of the concept of species, that is, of what a species is. In this chapter, we analyze the historical background of this debate, from Linnaeus to Kölreuter and Gärtner, and discuss the structure and arguments present in Origin's Chapter VIII, in which Darwin tackles the problem at hand.
Based on a statistical analysis of his experiments, which was a novelty for the tradition of "hor... more Based on a statistical analysis of his experiments, which was a novelty for the tradition of "horticulturalists" (or "plant breeders") as well as for the tradition of "hybridists", and seeking a "generally applicable law governing the formation and development of hybrids" (MENDEL 1865: 3), Mendel states "the law of development/evolution found for Pisum" (MENDEL 1865: 32). When he tries to provide the "foundation and explanation" (MENDEL 1865: 32) of the law of formation and development of hybrids, he does it in terms of the production and behavior of egg cells and pollen cells, and, ultimately, in terms of the nature and behavior of what he calls "elements" (MENDEL 1865: 41) or “cell elements” (MENDEL 1865: 42). Moreover, Mendel recognizes the existence not just of hybrids that behave like those of Pisum – i.e., of “variable hybrids” – but also of hybrids that “remain perfectly like the hybrid and continue constant in their offspring” (MENDEL 1865: 38) and “acquire the status of new species” (MENDEL 1865: 40) – i.e., of “constant hybrids” (MENDEL 1869: 27–28, 31). The law that would govern the behavior of constant hybrids would also find its foundation and explanation in terms of the nature and behavior of elements (or cell elements). Mendel’s hybridism consists of two theories: a theory that moves on a more “empirical” level, according to Schleiden’s first “special guiding maxim”, the “Maxim of the history of development/evolution” (SCHLEIDEN 1849: 141, 142, 146), which can be called “Mendel’s theory of the development/evolution of hybrids” (DEH), and a theory that moves on a more “theoretical” level, according to Schleiden’s second “special guiding maxim”, the “Maxim of the autonomy of cells in plants” (SCHLEIDEN 1849: 146, 148), which can be called “Mendel’s theory of the cellular foundation of the development/evolution of hybrids” (CFH). The paper aims to present an analysis of these two theories and their intertheoretical relationships, carried out within the framework of the so-called Metatheoretical Structuralism (BALZER, MOULINES & SNEED 1987).
... | Ayuda. La teoría del gen y la red teórica de la genética. Autores: Pablo Lorenzano; Localiz... more ... | Ayuda. La teoría del gen y la red teórica de la genética. Autores: Pablo Lorenzano; Localización: Desarrollos actuales de la metateoría estructuralista : problemas y discusiones / coord. por PabloLorenzano, José A. Díez, 2002, ISBN 987-9173-72-4 , pags. 263-304. ...
ABSTRACT The aim of this communication is to analyze the status of the Hardy-Weinberg law within ... more ABSTRACT The aim of this communication is to analyze the status of the Hardy-Weinberg law within (classical) population genetics. The analysis will be carried out with the notions of the structuralist view of theories, specially those of fundamental law or guide-principle, specialization, and special law, having as a background a rational reconstruction of (classical) population genetics – sketched in this communication – made within the framework of such a metatheory.
The question posed by the title is usually answered by saying that the "synthesis" between the th... more The question posed by the title is usually answered by saying that the "synthesis" between the theory of evolution by natural selection and classical genetics, which took place in 1930s-40s, would have taken place much earlier if Darwin had been aware of Mendel and his work. What is more, it nearly happened: it would have been enough if Darwin had cut the pages of the offprint of Mendel's work that was in his library and read them! Or, if Mendel had come across Darwin in London or paid him a visit at his house in the outskirts! (on occasion of Mendel's trip in 1862 to that city). The aim of the present paper is to provide elements for quite a different answer, based on further historical evidence, especially on Mendel's works, some of which mention Darwins's studies.
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The paper aims to present an analysis of these two theories and their intertheoretical relationships, carried out within the framework of the so-called Metatheoretical Structuralism (BALZER, MOULINES & SNEED 1987).
The paper aims to present an analysis of these two theories and their intertheoretical relationships, carried out within the framework of the so-called Metatheoretical Structuralism (BALZER, MOULINES & SNEED 1987).