Aristotelian Explanation and Homology in Biology. Issue 1 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peterson, Anne Siebels
• Is Part Of: Ancient philosophy today. Volume 2:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Aristotle -- biology -- homology -- explanation; Philosophy, Ancient -- Periodicals; Philosophy, Modern -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Theory of -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.3366/anph.2020.0024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-1156

Abstract

Abstract : In his account of epistēmē, the highest level of understanding attainable in philosophical inquiry, Aristotle articulates standards for the ideal explanations that confer this level of understanding. I argue that Aristotle's key standard for epistēmē is of central importance for the biological homology concept. The explanatory shortcoming that results from violating this standard has been vaguely articulated in recent literature on homology; Aristotle's account offers a more neutral and precise formulation of the shortcoming and its antidote. Further, the risk for this shortcoming has heightened with recent accounts of homology grounded in genetics, increasing the contemporary relevance of Aristotelian epistēmē .