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80The Compatibility of Differential Equations and Causal Models ReconsideredErkenntnis 85 (2): 317-332. 2020.Weber argues that causal modelers face a dilemma when they attempt to model systems in which the underlying mechanism operates according to some set of differential equations. The first horn is that causal models of these systems leave out certain causal effects. The second horn is that causal models of these systems leave out time-dependent derivatives, and doing so distorts reality. Either way causal models of these systems leave something important out. I argue that Weber’s reasons for thinki…Read more
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26Graphical causal models of social adaptation and Hamilton’s ruleBiology and Philosophy 34 (5): 48. 2019.Part of Allen et al.’s criticism of Hamilton’s rule makes sense only if we are interested in social adaptation rather than merely social selection. Under the assumption that we are interested in casually modeling social adaptation, I illustrate how graphical causal models of social adaptation can be useful for predicting evolution by adaptation. I then argue for two consequences of this approach given some of the recent philosophical literature. I argue Birch’s claim that the proper way to under…Read more
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23Causally Modeling Adaptation to the EnvironmentActa Biotheoretica 67 (3): 201-224. 2019.Brandon claims that to explain adaptation one must specify fitnesses in each selective environment and specify the distribution of individuals across selective environments. Glymour claims, using an example of the adaptive evolution of costly plasticity in a symmetric environment, that there are some predictive or explanatory tasks for which Brandon’s claim is limited. In this paper, I provide necessary conditions for carrying out Brandon’s task, produce a new version of the argument for his cla…Read more
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20Some Adaptations Were Not Positive Causal Factors for Reproductive SuccessPhilosophy of Science 84 (1): 1-13. 2017.Sober develops an account of adaptations on which they must have been positive causal factors for reproductive success. Glymour defends an account of a proper subset of adaptations—adaptations to particular environmental conditions—on which traits must interact in a special way with adapting conditions to cause reproductive success. These theories render conflicting judgments about which traits count as adaptations in some interesting cases. In this article I explore one such case and argue that…Read more
Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Biology |
Causation in Biology |
Causal Modeling |
General Philosophy of Science |
Areas of Interest
1 more
Philosophy of Biology |
Causation in Biology |
Causal Modeling |
General Philosophy of Science |
Metaphysics |
Value Theory |