Single Idea 14387

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 3. Natural Function]

Full Idea

The dispositional theory of biological functions is not unquestioned. The main alternative is the etiological theory: a component's effect is a function of that component if it has played an essential role in the causal history of its existence.

Clarification

'Etiology' concerns causation

Gist of Idea

Rather than dispositions, functions may be the element that brought a thing into existence

Source

Bert Leuridan (Can Mechanisms Replace Laws of Nature? [2010], §3)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.8


A Reaction

[He cites S.D. Mitchell 2003] Presumably this account is meant to fit into a theory of evolution in biology. The obvious problem is where something comes into existence for one reason, and then acquires a new function (such as piano-playing).