Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Darwin's rehabilitation of teleology versus Williams' replacement of teleology by natural selection

  • H. Smit*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Williams argued that darwin replaced teleology by natural selection. This article argues that this idea is based on a misunderstanding of darwin’s critique of the argument from design. Darwin did not replace teleology by evolutionary explanations but showed that we can understand teleology without referring to a designer. He eliminated the concept of design and rehabilitated aristotelian teleological explanations. The implication is that adaptations should not be investigated as if designed, but with the help of both teleological and evolutionary explanations. It is argued that elaborations of teleological explanations enable us to reconcile evolutionary theory and other fields in science.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)357-365
Number of pages9
JournalBiological Theory
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Darwin's rehabilitation of teleology versus Williams' replacement of teleology by natural selection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this