Dickins, Thomas E. (2023) The role of information in evolutionary biology. Acta Biotheoretica, 71 (3). ISSN 0001-5342
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Abstract
The Modern Synthesis has received criticism for its purported gene-centrism. That criticism relies on a concept of the gene as a unit of instructional information. In this paper I discuss information concepts and endorse one, developed from Floridi, that sees information as a functional relationship between data and context. I use this concept to inspect developmental criticisms of the Modern Synthesis and argue that the instructional gene arose as an idealization practice when evolutionary biologists made comment on development. However, a closer inspection of key claims shows that at least some associated with the Modern Synthesis were in fact adopting the data led definition I favour and made clear arguments for the role of developmental processes beyond genetic input. There was no instructional gene.
Item Type: | Article |
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Official URL: | https://www.springer.com/journal/10441 |
Additional Information: | © 2023 The Author(s). |
Divisions: | CPNSS |
Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QA Mathematics G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) |
Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2023 11:36 |
Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2024 07:39 |
URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/119297 |
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