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Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fleming, L; Brandon, R
Published in: Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences
February 2015

There is a worry that the 'major transitions in evolution' represent an arbitrary group of events. This worry is warranted, and we show why. We argue that the transition to a new level of hierarchy necessarily involves a nonselectionist chance process. Thus any unified theory of evolutionary transitions must be more like a general theory of fortuitous luck, rather than a rigid formulation of expected events. We provide a systematic account of evolutionary transitions based on a second-order regularity of chance events, as stipulated by the ZFEL (Zero Force Evolutionary Law). And in doing so, we make evolutionary transitions explainable and predictable, and so not entirely contingent after all.

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Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

February 2015

Volume

49

Start / End Page

24 / 31

Related Subject Headings

  • Selection, Genetic
  • Science Studies
  • Probability
  • Genetic Fitness
  • Flight, Animal
  • Dogs
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
 

Citation

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Fleming, L., & Brandon, R. (2015). Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 49, 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2014.10.006
Fleming, Leonore, and Robert Brandon. “Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 49 (February 2015): 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2014.10.006.
Fleming L, Brandon R. Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2015 Feb;49:24–31.
Fleming, Leonore, and Robert Brandon. “Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, vol. 49, Feb. 2015, pp. 24–31. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2014.10.006.
Fleming L, Brandon R. Why flying dogs are rare: A general theory of luck in evolutionary transitions. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2015 Feb;49:24–31.
Journal cover image

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

February 2015

Volume

49

Start / End Page

24 / 31

Related Subject Headings

  • Selection, Genetic
  • Science Studies
  • Probability
  • Genetic Fitness
  • Flight, Animal
  • Dogs
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields