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The Utility of the Proximate‐Ultimate Dichotomy in Ethology
Author(s) -
Alcock John,
Sherman Paul
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1994.tb00881.x
Subject(s) - proximate and ultimate causation , confusion , ethology , epistemology , proximate , psychology , biology , philosophy , ecology , psychoanalysis , food science
We defend the organizing principle that there are fundamentally different levels of analysis in biology, notably proximate and ultimate. Despite recent claims to the contrary, the proximate‐ultimate distinction is a true dichotomy, not an artificial division of a continuum. Acceptance of this dichotomy does not imply that ultimate questions are of greater importance than those dealing with proximate mechanisms, nor does it result in confusion of current reproductive consequences with evolutionary causes.