Teleology in contemporary biology

Authors

  • Marcelo Alves Ferreira Departamento de Filosofia. Universidade de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-31662003000200004

Keywords:

Teleology, Finalism, Biology, Function, Reductionism

Abstract

The status of teleological thought in contemporary biology entails controversy. The supporters of the reductionist programme in biology strive to eliminate it, whereas instrumental and realist interpretations of the problem seek a justification for its permanence. This article tries to defend the reasons for the permanence of teleological thought, particularly those of realist background.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

BEDAU, M. A. “Can biological teleology be naturalized?” In: The Journal of Philosophy, 88, 1991, p. 647-55.

BETHEL, T. “Darwin’s Mistake.” In: Harper’s Magazine, fev., 1976, p. 70-5.

DARWIN, C. The Correspondence of Charles Darwin. Volume 8 - 1860. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993.

GILSON, E. D’Aristote a Darwin et retour - essai sur quelques constantes de la biophilosophie. Paris, Vrin, 1971.

KRAMER, P. J. “Misuse of the term ‘strategy’.” In: BioScience, 34, 1984, p. 405.

LEPELTIER, T. “Can one do without the notion of finality?” In: Revue de Livres, 1999. URL: http://assoc.wanadoo.fr/revue.de.livres/, obtido em 14/05/2002.

MAUND, B. “Proper functions and aristotelian functions in biology.” In: Studies in History and Philosophy of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 31, 1, 2000, p. 155-78.

MAYR, E. The growth of biological thought. Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard University Press, 1982.

POPPER, K. “Darwinism as a metaphysical research programme.” In: SCHILPP, P. A. (org.). The philosophy of Karl Popper, Volume I. La Salle (Ill.), Open Court, 1974, p.133-43.

RUSE, M. “Teleology: yesterday, today, and tomorrow?” In: Studies in History and Philosophy of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 31, 1, 2000, p. 213-32.

SCHILPP, P. A. (org.). The philosophy of Karl Popper, Volume I. La Salle (Ill.), Open Court, 1974.

SPASSOV, S. “Biological teleology in contemporary science.” In: V.V.A.A. Proceedings of the 20th world congress of philosophy. Boston, Paideia Project on-line (University of Boston), 1998. URL: http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Scie/ScieSpas.htm, obtido em 14/05/2002.

V.V.A.A. Proceedings of the 20th world congress of philosophy. Boston, Paideia Project on-line (University of Boston), 1998. URL: http://www.bu.edu/wcp/index.html

WHEWELL, W. Philosophy of the inductive sciences: works in the philosophy of science 1830-1914. Ed. de A. Pyle. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1999.

Published

2003-06-01

Issue

Section

Artigos

How to Cite