Articles liés à Norms of Nature: Naturalism and the Nature of Functions

Norms of Nature: Naturalism and the Nature of Functions - Couverture rigide

Davies, Paul Sheldon

 
9780262041874: Norms of Nature: Naturalism and the Nature of Functions
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0262041871 ISBN 13 : 9780262041874
Editeur : Bradford Books, 2001

Synopsis

The components of living systems strike us as functional-as for the sake of certain ends—and as endowed with specific norms of performance. The mammalian eye, for example, has the function of perceiving and processing light, and possession of this property tempts us to claim that token eyes are supposed to perceive and process light. That is, we tend to evaluate the performance of token eyes against the norm described in the attributed functional property. Hence the norms of nature.

What, then, are the norms of nature? Whence do they arise? Out of what natural properties or relations are they constituted? In Norms of Nature, Paul Sheldon Davies argues against the prevailing view that natural norms are constituted out of some form of historical success—usually success in natural selection. He defends the view that functions are nothing more than effects that contribute to the exercise of some more general systemic capacity. Natural functions exist insofar as the components of natural systems contribute to the exercise of systemic capacities. This is so irrespective of the system's history. Even if the mammalian eye had never been selected for, it would have the function of perceiving and processing light, because those are the effects that contribute to the exercise of the visual system. The systemic approach to conceptualizing natural norms, claims Davies, is superior to the historical approach in several important ways. Especially significant is that it helps us understand how the attribution of functions within the life sciences coheres with the methods and ontology of the natural sciences generally.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l'auteur

Paul Sheldon Davies is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the College of William and Mary.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Bradford Books
Date d'édition
2001
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0262041871
ISBN 13 
9780262041874
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
250
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
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