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Simple Systems and Phylogenetic Diversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

William C. Wimsatt
William C. Wimsatt*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Chicago
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Abstract

The simple systems methodology is a powerful reductionistic research strategy. It has problems as implemented in developmental genetics because the organisms studied are few and unrepresentative. Stronger inferences require independent arguments that key traits are widely distributed phylogenetically. Evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of generative entrenchment and self-organization provide possible support, and are also necessary components of a developmental systems approach.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 267 - 275
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1998

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Footnotes

†

Send requests for reprints to the author, Department of Philosophy, 1050 E. 59th Street, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; e-mail: w-wimsatt@uchicago.edu.

‡

Thanks to George von Dassow, Ed Munro, Evelyn Keller, and the Modularity in Development group at Friday Harbor, whose work inspired Section 3 and informed the rest, to Ken Schaffner and Scott Gilbert for useful additional conversations, and to Philip Kitcher for elegant and economical editorial suggestions.

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