What’s wrong with evolutionary biology?

摘要: There have been periodic claims that evolutionary biology needs urgent reform, and this article tries to account for the volume persistence of discontent. It is argued a few inescapable properties field make it prone criticisms predictable kinds, whether or not any merit. For example, variety living things complexity evolution easy generate data seem revolutionary (e.g. exceptions well-established generalizations, neglected factors in evolution), lead disappointment with existing explanatory frameworks (with their high levels abstraction, limited predictive power). then special discontent stems from misunderstandings dislike one well-known but atypical research programme: study adaptive function, tradition behavioural ecology. To achieve its goals, distinct tools, often including imaginary agency, partial description process. This invites mistaken charges narrowness oversimplification (which come, least, researchers other subfields), these chime anxieties about human agency overall purpose. The ends by discussing several ways which calls reform actively hinder progress field.