Defusing Ideological Defenses in Biology

Angela Potochnik

doi:10.1525/bio.2013.63.2.7

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1 February 2013 Defusing Ideological Defenses in Biology

Angela Potochnik

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BioScience, 63(2):118-123 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2013.63.2.7

Abstract

Ideological language is widespread in theoretical biology. Evolutionary game theory has been defended as a worldview and a leap of faith, and sexual selection theory has been criticized for what it posits as basic to biological nature. Views such as these encourage the impression of ideological rifts in the field. I advocate an alternative interpretation, whereby many disagreements between different camps of biologists merely reflect methodological differences. This interpretation provides a more accurate and more optimistic account of the state of play in the field of biology. It also helps account for biologists' tendency to embrace ideological positions.

© 2013 by American Institute of Biological Sciences. Alf rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp.

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Angela Potochnik "Defusing Ideological Defenses in Biology," BioScience 63(2), 118-123, (1 February 2013). https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2013.63.2.7

Published: 1 February 2013

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