Publications [#336416] of Karen Neander

Papers Published

1. Neander, K, Does biology need teleology?, in The Routledge Handbook of Evolution and Philosophy (January, 2017), pp. 64-76, Routledge, ISBN 9781138789555 [doi]
   (last updated on 2020/05/20)

   Abstract:
   © 2018 Taylor & Francis. To ask the function of short-term memory one might ask, “What is short-term memory for?" 1 Or, to ascribe a function to eyelashes one might say, “Eyelashes divert airflow to protect the eye.” 2 If a function of x is to z, it is for z-ing or is there to z. This manner of speaking has a teleological flavor, but do biologists really use a teleological notion of function in contemporary biology, and, if so, what (if any) scientific purpose is it serving?.