Why Pigs Don't Have Wings
From PsyCrit
- Target article: Fodor, J. (2007) Why Pigs Don't Have Wings. London Review of Books (2007), October 18.
- Commentaries: Staddon 2007 [ PDF ]: Fodor & Staddon 2008 [ PDF ]
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Abstract
According to Jerry Fodor, many evolutionary biologists believe in adaptationism, the idea that (almost) everything can be explained via natural selection. He disagrees, contending that natural selection is "incoherent" and may not be the chief engine of evolution as Darwin believed: "it could turn out that there are indeed baboons in our family tree, but that natural selection isn't how they got there." He hints at a Fodor-led revolution in biology. In the November 1, 15 and 29 LRB issues a number of vexed philosophers and biologists responded and Fodor responded to them. Here is some more on the nouvelle vague in evolutionary biology...
