Reductionism, emergence, multilevel selection and the biological roots of altruism
Pérez-Iglesias, Juan Ignacio
- Publication year:
- 2025
- Publication place:
- Donostia
- Characteristics:
- BIBLID [0212-7016; eISSN: 2953-4180 (2025), 70, 2]. - Recep.: 16-09-2025; Acep.: 30-01-2026
- DOI:
- doi.org/10.61879/riev702zkia202507
- ISSN:
- 0212-7016; eISSN: 2953-4180
Summary
The article analyzes the tension between reductionism and emergentism in the life sciences and its impact on evolutionary theory, especially the unit of selection debate. It distinguishes forms of reductionism and emergence, examines biological organization and altruism, and argues that strong emergence and downward causation challenge strictly reductionist explanations, revealing deeper philosophical commitments about explanation and causality.
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