Sarkar on Frank

Philosophy of Science 82 (1):122-128 (2015)
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Abstract

In a recent paper, Sahotra Sarkar compares the Standard Dynamical interpretation of natural selection with the Information-Theoretic interpretation from Steven A. Frank. I address Sarkar’s three arguments against Frank’s interpretation. I show that Sarkar’s major argument that a key component of Frank’s account “does not have any natural biological interpretation” is premised on a contradiction stemming from a mathematical error. Consequently, Sarkar’s major argument is unsound. I also address Sarkar’s claim that a central equation in Frank’s interpretation is dynamically insufficient and his claim that Frank’s interpretation uses nonintuitive parameters to simply rewrite familiar results.

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David Robert Crawford
Cambridge University

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References found in this work

Evolution and the levels of selection.Samir Okasha - 2006 - New York: Oxford University Press.
The Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change. R. C. Lewontin.Michael Ruse - 1976 - Philosophy of Science 43 (2):302-304.
The principle of drift: Biology's first law.Robert N. Brandon - 2006 - Journal of Philosophy 103 (7):319-335.

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