Philosophers of Science Facilitated Intellectual Exchange Between Developmental Approaches in Ethology and Evolutionary Biology

ABSTRACT

Developmental processes have often been granted a secondary role in ethology and evolutionary biology. Yet, in ethology, developmental psychobiology was established as an alternative to the instinct concept, emphasizing the importance of environmental influences for the development of species‐typical behavior. Similarly, in evolutionary biology, the extended evolutionary synthesis rejects gene‐centric perspectives to recognize a crucial role of development for adaptation and diversification. In this paper, we study the connections between these developmentalist perspectives. We focus specifically on West and King's ontogenetic niche concept and its relationship to the constructive development principle of the extended evolutionary synthesis. Using tools from computational history and philosophy of science, we provide evidence that the philosophical tradition of developmental systems theory mediated the transfer of the ontogenetic niche concept into evolutionary biology. We conclude with reflections about the role of philosophers of science as bridge‐builders between research fields and perspectives.