EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVES: MAPPING THE SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS

Abstract

This paper explores the limits of evolutionary explanations (EEs) in explaining human behavior. It begins by discussing the philosophical debate between Daniel Dennett and Stephen Jay Gould on the scope of EEs. Dennett argues that EEs are universal and can explain all aspects of the natural world, while Gould argues that there are limits to EEs, particularly in the realm of human behavior. The paper then considers three case studies that illustrate potential constraints on EEs: the evolution of morality, the evolution of religion, and the evolution of art. The paper concludes that there are indeed limits to EEs, but that these limits are not always clear-cut and may vary depending on the specific question being asked