Abstract
THERE has recently been a considerable revival of interest, largely due to the work of Darlington1, in the teleology of different systems of reproduction. The logical status of teleological arguments is very different in this connexion from that in other spheres, since the ‘purpose’ which is brought forward is the fulfilment of the conditions for rapid evolutionary advance under the influence of natural selection. That is to say, a genetic system which achieves its ‘purpose’ provides in so doing the mechanism for its survival. The considerations which have led to the rejection of teleological arguments in other connexions therefore do not apply; though one might still question whether the teleological phraseology is the most convincing in which the arguments can be framed.
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References
Darlington, C. D., “The Evolution of Genetic Systems”. (Cambridge: University Press, 1939.)
Mather, K., NATURE, 145, 484 (1940).
Waddington, C. H., “An Introduction to Modern Genetics”. (London: Allen & Unwin, 1939.)
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WADDINGTON, C. True and False Teleology. Nature 145, 705 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/145705a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/145705a0
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