Teleology’s long shadow
Abstract We describe the ubiquity of teleological language and thinking throughout biology, as a context for understanding how students think about evolution, as well. Examples can be found in molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and taxonomy, at least. Recent research documents a deep human psyc...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Evolution: Education and Outreach |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12052-020-00118-8 |
| _version_ | 1818990358185377792 |
|---|---|
| author | A. Werth D. Allchin |
| author_facet | A. Werth D. Allchin |
| author_sort | A. Werth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We describe the ubiquity of teleological language and thinking throughout biology, as a context for understanding how students think about evolution, as well. Examples can be found in molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and taxonomy, at least. Recent research documents a deep human psychological tendency to attribute purpose or intent (and thus normative meaning) to natural phenomena. We present a possible evolutionary explanation. Still, these cognitive habits help foster scientific errors of projecting human norms onto natural phenomena (what we have elsewhere termed the naturalizing error). Subsequent appeals to “nature” are used (inappropriately) to justify cultural ideologies. Accordingly, we advocate explicit learning about teleological dispositions and their cultural consequences as an essential countermeasure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:53:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98076535f0d145ceac64924b415ec14c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-6426 1936-6434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:53:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolution: Education and Outreach |
| spelling | doaj.art-98076535f0d145ceac64924b415ec14c2022-12-21T19:28:14ZengBMCEvolution: Education and Outreach1936-64261936-64342020-03-0113111110.1186/s12052-020-00118-8Teleology’s long shadowA. Werth0D. Allchin1Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney CollegeMinnesota Center for the Philosophy of Science, University of MinnesotaAbstract We describe the ubiquity of teleological language and thinking throughout biology, as a context for understanding how students think about evolution, as well. Examples can be found in molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and taxonomy, at least. Recent research documents a deep human psychological tendency to attribute purpose or intent (and thus normative meaning) to natural phenomena. We present a possible evolutionary explanation. Still, these cognitive habits help foster scientific errors of projecting human norms onto natural phenomena (what we have elsewhere termed the naturalizing error). Subsequent appeals to “nature” are used (inappropriately) to justify cultural ideologies. Accordingly, we advocate explicit learning about teleological dispositions and their cultural consequences as an essential countermeasure.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12052-020-00118-8TeleologyAppeal to natureNaturalizing errorInformation metaphorBalance of natureIntentional agency |
| spellingShingle | A. Werth D. Allchin Teleology’s long shadow Evolution: Education and Outreach Teleology Appeal to nature Naturalizing error Information metaphor Balance of nature Intentional agency |
| title | Teleology’s long shadow |
| title_full | Teleology’s long shadow |
| title_fullStr | Teleology’s long shadow |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teleology’s long shadow |
| title_short | Teleology’s long shadow |
| title_sort | teleology s long shadow |
| topic | Teleology Appeal to nature Naturalizing error Information metaphor Balance of nature Intentional agency |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12052-020-00118-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT awerth teleologyslongshadow AT dallchin teleologyslongshadow |