Tag Archives: Philosophy

Evolution quote: Sirks and Zirkle

Posted on April 25, 2011 by John S. Wilkins

Reposted from Evolving Thoughts At this point it might be well to insert a fact that has generally been overlooked by the historians of biology. The pre-evolutionary concept of species is generally given as a universally accepted view that species … Continue reading →

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Attacks on philosophy by scientists

Posted on December 30, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

Reposted from my home blog. Something that I never really fully understand is why academics feel the need to denigrate other academic disciplines. Just because one happens to think something is so worthwhile that they devoted their lives to it … Continue reading →

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More deaths

Posted on October 18, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

Two researchers have recently died who are relevant to evolutionary biology. Leigh Van Valen, the originator of the “Red Queen Hypothesis” and a proponent of the Ecological Species Concept, died yesterday, John Hawks is reporting. I had some correspondence with … Continue reading →

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Hume, Curiosity, and the Justification of Scientific Endeavor

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Brandon Watson

A considerable portion of the philosophy of David Hume can be interpreted as an attempt to formulate a proper philosophical account of the scientific endeavor itself. This certainly is a major concern for Hume; much of his discussion of causation, … Continue reading →

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On the origins of creativity

Posted on September 25, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

I’m not a very creative guy. I had an idea back in the 1970s, but I managed not to do anything about it in time for someone else to do something with an almost identical idea. I think I dodged … Continue reading →

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George C. Williams dies

Posted on September 11, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

Few evolutionary biologists have had the impact within and without their field as has George Williams, who died this week. His groundbreaking Adaptation and Natural Selection in 1966 set off the debate over levels of selection, the ubiquity of natural … Continue reading →

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Stephen Hawking and the creation of the universe

Posted on September 4, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

I should begin by saying that I haven’t read Hawking’s book with Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, and I probably won’t. But the way it is being hyped in the media, social and mainstream, suggests that what he is claiming, … Continue reading →

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