The Levels of Selection
- 1 January 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association
- Vol. 1982 (1) , 315-323
- https://doi.org/10.1086/psaprocbienmeetp.1982.1.192676
Abstract
In this paper Wimsatt's analysis of units of selection is taken as defining the units of selection question. A definition of levels of selection is offered and it is shown that the levels of selection question is quite different from the units of selection question. Some of the relations between units and levels are briefly explored. It is argued that the levels of selection question is the question relevant to explanatory concerns, and it is suggested that it is the question relevant to ontological concerns.Keywords
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