Teleonomy as a problem of self-causation

Abstract

A theoretical framework is provided to explore teleonomy as a problem of self-causation, distinct from upward, downward and reticulate causation. Causality theories in biology are often formulated within hierarchy theories, where causation is conceptualized as running up or down the rungs of a ladder-like hierarchy or, more recently, as moving between multiple hierarchies. Research on the genealogy of cosmologies demonstrates that in addition to hierarchy theories, causality theories also depend upon ideas of time. This paper explores the roots and impact of both time and hierarchy thinking on causal reasoning in the evolutionary sciences. Within evolutionary biology, the Neodarwinian synthesis adheres to a linear notion of time associated with linear hierarchies that portray upward causation. Eco-evo-devo schools recognize the importance of downward causation and consequently receive resistance from the standard view because downward causation is sometimes understood as backward causation, considered impossible by adherents of a linear time model. In contrast, downward causation works with a spatial or presential time notion. Hybridization, lateral gene transfer, infective heredity, symbiosis and symbiogenesis require recognition of reticulate causation occurring in both space and time, or spacetime, between distinct and interacting ontological hierarchies. Teleonomy is distinct from these types of causation because it invokes the problem of self-causation. By asking how the focal level in a hierarchy can persist through time, self-causation raises philosophical concerns on the nature of duration, identity and individuality.

Carving teleology at its joints

“…The impetus to account for the goal-directedness of biological systems and processes-unburdened by the constraints of scholastic teleology-gave rise to the discourse of teleonomy (Huxley, 1960;Mayr, 1998;Pittendrigh, 1958). This discourse has recently regained attention (Auletta, 2011;Dresow & Love, 2023;Gontier, 2022;Vane-Wright, 2022). This paper revisits Ernst Mayr's conceptualisation of the multiple meanings of teleology/teleon-omy 1 , as well as his account of teleonomy in terms of programmability (Mayr, 1985(Mayr, , 1988.…”

Canguilhem and Continental Philosophy of Biology

“…More prominently, in the philosophy of science there is an increasingly marked consideration of the processuality of biological events and a desire to provide new models of causality. The link between the conception of time and models of causality has been highlighted for instance by Nathalie Gontier (2016Gontier ( , 2021 through the reticulate evolution studies. To give a complete theory of evolution, it would be necessary to be able to account for the action of time in evolution, for the way in which different scales of time communicate.…”