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A Short Introduction to the Biological Principles of Evolutionary Epistemology

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Concepts and Approaches in Evolutionary Epistemology

Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library ((TDLU,volume 36))

Abstract

Evolutionary epistemology represents in its totality an interdepartmental branch of research, but its fundamental principles and assumptions are based on the empirical recognitions of biology. The basic constructive method of proceeding consists in finding out how the evolution of structures and functions could occur with an increase in information content. The problem is not the storage and conversion of information but rather how evolution transmits to the organism a sort of “knowledge” about certain properties of its surroundings. We can express this as follows: the characteristic of the process of evolution is a permanent increase in order (cf. Riedl, 1977; Kaspar, 1981).

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© 1984 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Kaspar, R. (1984). A Short Introduction to the Biological Principles of Evolutionary Epistemology. In: Wuketits, F.M. (eds) Concepts and Approaches in Evolutionary Epistemology. Theory and Decision Library, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7127-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7127-1_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7129-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7127-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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