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Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brandon, R; Fleming, L
Published in: Biology and Philosophy
January 1, 2014

Clatterbuck et al. (Biol Philos 28: 577-592, 2013) argue that there is no fact of the matter whether selection dominates drift or vice versa in any particular case of evolution. Their reasons are not empirically based; rather, they are purely conceptual. We show that their conceptual presuppositions are unmotivated, unnecessary and overly complex. We also show that their conclusion runs contrary to current biological practice. The solution is to recognize that evolution involves a probabilistic sampling process, and that drift is a deviation from probabilistic expectation. We conclude that conceptually, there are no problems with distinguishing drift from selection, and empirically-as modern science illustrates-when drift does occur, there is a quantifiable fact of the matter to be discovered. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

EISSN

1572-8404

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

January 1, 2014

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

577 / 585

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 50 Philosophy and religious studies
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Brandon, R., & Fleming, L. (2014). Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin. Biology and Philosophy, 29(4), 577–585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-014-9437-z
Brandon, R., and L. Fleming. “Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin.” Biology and Philosophy 29, no. 4 (January 1, 2014): 577–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-014-9437-z.
Brandon R, Fleming L. Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin. Biology and Philosophy. 2014 Jan 1;29(4):577–85.
Brandon, R., and L. Fleming. “Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin.” Biology and Philosophy, vol. 29, no. 4, Jan. 2014, pp. 577–85. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s10539-014-9437-z.
Brandon R, Fleming L. Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin. Biology and Philosophy. 2014 Jan 1;29(4):577–585.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

EISSN

1572-8404

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

January 1, 2014

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

577 / 585

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 50 Philosophy and religious studies
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences