On Reciprocal Causation in the Evolutionary Process

Evolutionary Biology
Erik I Svensson

Abstract

Recent calls for a revision of standard evolutionary theory (SET) are based partly on arguments about the reciprocal causation. Reciprocal causation means that cause-effect relationships are bi-directional, as a cause could later become an effect and vice versa. Such dynamic cause-effect relationships raise questions about the distinction between proximate and ultimate causes, as originally formulated by Ernst Mayr. They have also motivated some biologists and philosophers to argue for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES). The EES will supposedly expand the scope of the Modern Synthesis (MS) and SET, which has been characterized as gene-centred, relying primarily on natural selection and largely neglecting reciprocal causation. Here, I critically examine these claims, with a special focus on the last conjecture. I conclude that reciprocal causation has long been recognized as important by naturalists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists working in the in the MS tradition, although it it could be explored even further. Numerous empirical examples of reciprocal causation in the form of positive and negative feedback are now well known from both natural and laboratory systems. Reciprocal causation have also been explicitly ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 16, 2019·PLoS Computational Biology·Scott L Nuismer, Bob Week
Nov 23, 2018·Journal of the History of Biology·Jan Baedke
Sep 20, 2019·Evolution & Development·Tobias UllerAlfredo Rago
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Oct 4, 2017·Biology Direct·Arlin Stoltzfus
Dec 15, 2020·Bio Systems·Anton V Sukhoverkhov, Nathalie Gontier
Nov 6, 2021·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Melvin Konner

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