What you are and the evolution of organs, souls and superorganisms: a reply to Blatti

Analysis 73 (2):271-279 (2013)
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Abstract

Stephan Blatti claims to have a new line of reasoning using evolutionary theory that resolves arguments over our deeper natures in favor of the Animalist position that we are identical to Homo sapiens organisms. Blatti thus raises an important question about which views of what we are can take us to be evolved. However, in this response I show that Blatti’s argument using evolution is based upon a false assumption about contemporary biology. I highlight how a better understanding of evolutionary theory allows us to see that the major theories of what we are, including Psychological, Brain and even Soul theories, as well as Animalism, can all accept that we are products of evolution

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Carl Gillett
Northern Illinois University

Citations of this work

Animalism.Andrew M. Bailey - 2015 - Philosophy Compass 10 (12):867-883.
Animalism.Stephan Blatti - 2014 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Human beings among the beasts.Andrew M. Bailey & Alexander R. Pruss - 2021 - Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 102 (3):455-467.
Animalism and Deferentialism.Chris Daly & David Liggins - 2013 - Dialectica 67 (4):605-609.
Strategy for Animalism.Joungbin Lim - 2018 - Axiomathes 28 (4):419-433.

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References found in this work

The Human Animal: Personal Identity Without Psychology.Eric Todd Olson - 1997 - New York, US: Oxford University Press.
Physical Realization.Sydney Shoemaker - 2007 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press UK.
Persons and Bodies: A Constitution View.Lynne Rudder Baker - 2000 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
A Radical Solution to the Species Problem.Michael T. Ghiselin - 1974 - Systematic Zoology 23 (4):536–544.
Material Beings.Peter Van Inwagen - 1990 - Philosophy 67 (259):126-127.

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