Representing Evolution

A central part of scientific enquiry involves constructing representations of the world.

Representations can take many forms, including diagrams, taxonomies, verbal descriptions, physical models, and abstract mathematical models.

Thus a diagram of the solar system, a taxonomy of Alpine flora, a ball-and-stick model of a chemical substance, and a mathematical model of the spread of a disease are all examples of representations.

Different though they are, each of these scientific constructs aims to represent some system in the world (the target system) and can be assessed for how well they achieve this aim.The aim of my project is to examine how biological evolution has been represented diagrammatically, verbally and mathematically in the scientific literature, past and present.

A further aim is to examine representations of evolution in the context of pedagogy and science communication.

Biological evolution is taken to include the process of descent with modification that Darwin first described; the mechanisms that drive the evolutionary process such as natural selection; and the products to which the process has given rise, such as adaptation and diversity. Scientists have constructed representations of each of these elements in their quest to understand how evolution works.

My project will offer a systematic study of these representations from an overarching philosophical perspective. The importance of the project lies in its integrative ambition.

The project will bring together philosophical ideas about the nature of representation and idealization, linguistic ideas about metaphor and analogy, psychological ideas about reasoning and cognitive biases, and educational ideas about science communication.

By drawing on such a diverse range of ideas, the project will deepen our understanding of how evolution is, has been, and should be represented. The results will of interest to both philosophers of science and scientific practitioners.