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Functional Analysis and Proper Functions Export

by: Paul E. Griffiths
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 44, No. 3. (1 September 1993), pp. 409-422.

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The etiological approach to proper functions' in biology can be strengthened by relating it to Robert Cummins' general treatment of function ascription. The proper functions of a biological trait are the functions it is assigned in a Cummins-style functional explanation of the fitness of ancestors. These functions figure in selective explanations of the trait. It is also argued that some recent etiological theories include inaccurate accounts of selective explanation in biology. Finally, a generalization of the notion of selective explanation allows an analysis of the proper functions of human artifacts. 10.1093/bjps/44.3.409


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