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The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brandon, RN
Published in: Biology and Philosophy
January 1, 2005

Millstein [Bio. Philos. 17 (2002) 33] correctly identies a serious problem with the view that natural selection and random drift are not conceptually distinct. She offers a solution to this problem purely in terms of differences between the processes of selection and drift. I show that this solution does not work, that it leaves the vast majority of real biological cases uncategorized. However, I do think there is a solution to the problem she raises, and I offer it here. My solution depends on solving the biological analogue of the reference class problem in probability theory and on the reality of individual fitnesses. © Springer 2005.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

January 1, 2005

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

153 / 170

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. N. (2005). The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein. Biology and Philosophy, 20(1), 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-004-1070-9
Brandon, R. N. “The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein.” Biology and Philosophy 20, no. 1 (January 1, 2005): 153–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-004-1070-9.
Brandon RN. The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein. Biology and Philosophy. 2005 Jan 1;20(1):153–70.
Brandon, R. N. “The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein.” Biology and Philosophy, vol. 20, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 153–70. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s10539-004-1070-9.
Brandon RN. The difference between selection and drift: A reply to Millstein. Biology and Philosophy. 2005 Jan 1;20(1):153–170.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

January 1, 2005

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

153 / 170

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