Feburary 7th 2020, 14h30-16h00 Centre de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Salle de réunion Sud
André Ariew (University of Missouri, USA) "Darwin's use of statistics to develop his theory of evolution" A PhilInBioMed seminar Open to all André Ariew is Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Missouri (USA). When Karl Pearson asked Francis and Leonard Darwin whether their father was aware that the theory of natural selection is applicable to statistical analysis, they responded that their father had a ‘non-statistical’ mind. Ever since, commentators and biographers have perpetuated this false impression of Darwin’s shortcomings. In fact, Darwin applied various forms of statistical analyses to develop his theory of natural selection. In the first instance (1850s) Darwin applied a unique form of botanical arithmetic (developed in correspondence with his neighbor John Lubbock) to find evidence of speciation in action. As a result, Darwin overturned his previous convictions about the nature of adaptations, the dynamics of natural selection, and the origin of species and other higher taxa. In Darwin’s second instance (1873) Darwin applied the normal distribution to explain how rudimentary features could possibly evolve, (in particular the evolution of complimentary males in ce rtain cirripedes). Darwin’s use of the normal distribution to explain the workings of evolution by natural selection predates by decades the development of the Modern Synthesis statistical formulations of evolutionary theory. In light of these works we ought to cede to a completely revised view of Darwin’s statistical abilities. For more information click here. Best regards, Wiebke Bretting -- Dr. Wiebke Bretting Project Manager ERC IDEM ImmunoConcEpT, UMR5164 Université de Bordeaux 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux https://www.immuconcept.org/erc-idem/ -- https://www.vidal-rosset.net/mailing_list_educasupphilo.html
