PHILOSOPHY 100 STOLZE

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PHILOSOPHY 100 (STOLZE)

• Notes on Tim Lewens, Darwin

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Tim Lewens

• Tim Lewens is University Lecturer in History and
  Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University
• An Interview with Lewens is available at
  lthttp//www.darwinproject.ac.uk/content/blogcatego
  ry/39/93/gt

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Darwin, Introduction and Chapter 2

• Darwin and Naturalism
• The History of Philosophy and Philosophy Proper

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Darwin as a Philosophical Naturalist

• He sought scientific explanations for patterns
  observed in nature, e.g., why there are the
  precise species that are observed on the Earth.
• He sought evolutionary explanations to problems
  regarding politics ethics, and psychology
• While Darwin rarely suggests that his natural
  historical reflections should wholly replace
  philosophical approaches to ethics, or the
  emotions, he does believe that philosophy is
  blind unless it is guided by evolutionary
  insights. Darwins hope is that an evolutionary
  perspective--the perspective that recognizes that
  species are modified versions of common
  ancestors--will provide us with some fixed points
  that can anchor and discipline philosophical
  speculations regarding human nature and the human
  condition (pp. 3-4).

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Philosophy and History

• Whereas the historical problem is how to
  understand what Darwin thought in his own
  cultural and intellectual context, the
  philosophical problem is to see to what extent
  Darwins ideas are plausible and continue to be
  relevant.

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Darwins Argument for Evolution by Natural Section

• (I) Assume that individual organisms in a species
  vary.
• (II) Assume that there is in nature a severe
  struggle for life.
• (III) So, it is very likely that some of the
  variations we see between individuals within a
  species will promote their bearers welfare and
  
• (IV) Beneficial variations of the kind will be
  favorable in the struggle for existence.
• (V) Now, whichever organisms have variations
  favorable in the struggle for existence will,
  ipso facto, have greater chances of living
  longer, and consequently, of leaving offspring,
  than do others without these beneficial
  variations.
• (VI) Assume that offspring tend to resemble their
  parents.
• (VII) So, those variations which better equip
  organisms in the struggle for existence will also
  be the ones that are preserved in the offspring
  generation.