Group Selection and Methodological Individualism: Reply to Comments

Levels of Selection and Methodological Individualism

Whitman argues that group selection is consistent with methodological individualism. He begins by defining a weak form of methodological individualism in which agents are not necessarily self-interested or rational and shows that this form of is consistent with Sober and Wilson’s model of group selection. However, Sober and Wilson’s group selection is also consistent with a methodological indiv...

Group Selection and Methodological Individualism : Compatible and Complementary

Various authors allege that the theory of group selection is inconsistent with methodological individualism, and therefore analysts must reject at least one of these principles. The present article argues for their compatibility. The meaning of methodological individualism is clarified, and the new version of group selection (articulated by Wilson and Sober (1994, 1998)) is explained. The two p...

Methodological individualisM and cultural evolution : ontogenetic and Phylogenetic aPProaches to social order

This paper is about the alleged tension between methodological individualism and evolutionary ideas in the work of Friedrich Hayek. This issue is much debated, but I focus my attention on a quite original incompatibility argument by Geoffrey Hodgson. Hodgson sympathizes with the evolutionary Hayek, arguing that Hayek’s methodological individualism involves an “ontogenetic” approach to social sc...

How to reply to referees' comments when submitting manuscripts for publication

Background: The publication of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals is a fairly complex and stepwise process that involves responding to referees’ comments. Little guidance is available in the biomedical literature on how to deal with such comments. Objective: The objective of this article is to provide guidance to notice writers on dealing with peer review comments in a way that maxim...

Reply to the Comments on "Chemistry of Pyrolysis and Kinetic Studies of Shea Nut (Vitellaria Paradoxa) Shells Activated Carbon for Textile Wastewater Treatment"