Existence and Knowledge

Existence and Knowledge

Objective knowledge of the product of active Darwinism in Popper's evolutionary epistemology

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Mahdi Boroujerdi 1
Hadi Samadi 2
Ali Reza Mansouri 3
1 PhD student of Philosophy of Science, Department of Philosophy of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant professor, Department of Philosophy of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Associate professor, Department of Philosophy of Science, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran.
10.22096/ek.2023.554478.1449
Abstract
Darwin’s evolutionary theory has taken on a number of readings since its introduction. The common view in the twentieth century was based on blind chance and natural selection. While in some recent views, living organisms are considered as active, not passive ones that remain to be selected. In this article, we will describe Popper as a philosopher, which interested in the theory of evolution. He attributes special importance to the agency of organisms and their activities. We will show how Popper criticized old views and offered new ones. Popper saw agency as an ongoing process that involved arising problems, finding innovative solutions to problems, and eliminating some of them, which will lead to speciation and increase of biodiversity. Popper's active Darwinism is in obvious contrast to the common views of biologists on the inactivity of organisms toward natural selection and in agreement with so-called non-adaptationism. It is shown that the history of such a view can be traced back to Darwin when he spoke on artificial selection and sexual selection. This article attempts to offer a deeper reading of Popper's epistemology that is consistent with his reading of Darwinism.
Keywords
"Popper"
" Objective Knowledge"
" Active Darwinism"
"Passive Darwinism"
"Evolutionary Epistemology"
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Existence and Knowledge
Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 16
Fall 2021- Winter 2022 - Issue 16
March 2022
Pages 65-86