Explanation in Social Evolution Theory

This project concerns the explanatoriness of theoretical principles in social evolution theory, in particular Hamilton’s rule and the Price equation. Whether or how these widely accepted principles provide insight into evolutionary phenomena is the subject of scientific controversy and of philosophical discussion. The principles are so abstract that they are sometimes viewed as being devoid of any empirical significance. The project, in collaboration with Vaios Koliofotis, aims at providing novel arguments in favour of the epistemic significance of Hamilton’s rule and the Price equation.