Abstract
Organisms and their genomes are mosaics of features of different evolutionary age. Older features are maintained by ‘negative’ selection and comprise part of the selective environment that has shaped the evolution of newer features by ‘positive’ selection. Body plans and body parts are among the most conservative elements of the environment in which genetic differences are selected. By this process, well-trodden paths of development constrain and direct paths of evolutionary change. Structuralism and adaptationism are both vindicated. Form plays a selective role in the molding of form.
Highlights
Organisms and their genomes are mosaics of features of different evolutionary age
An olive branch of unification is offered, HGEI is written to correct the myopia and astigmatism of adaptationism. Adaptationists, it is suggested, have belittled, misrepresented and misunderstood structuralists and rapprochement should occur on structuralist terms
An adaptationist who describes similar phenomena in functionalist language is likely to feel misrepresented and misunderstood and to insist that rapprochement occur on functionalist terms
Summary
Haig, David. 2014. “Sameness, Novelty, and Nominal Kinds.” Biol Philos (July 19). doi:10.1007/s10539-014-9456-9. doi:10.1007/s10539-014-9456-9 http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:23514773 This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-ofuse#OAP David Haig Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA 02138.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
