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8Baldwin effects and the expansion of the explanatory repertoire in evolutionary biologyIn Bruce H. Weber & David J. Depew (eds.), Evolution and Learning: The Baldwin Effect Reconsidered, Mit Press. pp. 33--351. 2003.
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659The Theory Theory Thrice Over: The Child as Scientist, Superscientist or Social Institution?Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 33 (1): 117-132. 2002.Alison Gopnik and Andrew Meltzoff have argued for a view they call the ‘theory theory’: theory change in science and children are similar. While their version of the theory theory has been criticized for depending on a number of disputed claims, we argue that there is a fundamental problem which is much more basic: the theory theory is multiply ambiguous. We show that it might be claiming that a similarity holds between theory change in children and (i) individual scientists, (ii) a rational rec…Read more
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21Confronting Variation in the Social and Behavioral SciencesPhilosophy of Science 83 (5): 909-920. 2016.I pose problems for the views that human nature should be the object of study in the social and behavioral sciences and that a concept of human nature is needed to guide research in these sciences. I proceed by outlining three research programs in the social sciences, each of which confronts aspects of human variation. Next, I present Elizabeth Cashdan and Grant Ramsey’s related characterizations of human nature. I go on to argue that the research methodologies they each draw on are more product…Read more
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Biology |
Philosophy of Cognitive Science |
Philosophy of Social Science |
Philosophy of Probability |