Darwin-L Message Log 1:165 (September 1993)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<1:165>From @VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU:RMBURIAN@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU  Fri Sep 17 19:23:31 1993

Date: Fri, 17 Sep 93 20:20:48 EDT
From: "Richard M. Burian" <RMBURIAN@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject: Re: DARWIN-L digest 17
To: A reply to Kent Holsinger <darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu>

Even the improved definition of organismic evolution as "a change
in the genetic composition of a population over time..." is not ade-
quate to all of the phenomena that we need to encompass in the study
of orgainic evolution, for it does not handle cladogenesis [a techni-
cal term for splitting of lineages, e.g., in speciation].  the radical
increase in the diversity of living beings requires cladogenesis and
not just anagenesis (changes in the features of a population over time)
which, I happily grant, is better captured by your definition than the
more standard one of change in gene frequencies.  Richard Burian
                  Science Studies
                  Virginia Tech
P.S. This comment reflects back on a lot of prior discussions over
the last few days.

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