Evolutionary Developmental Biology as a science of remote causes

Abstract

According to Ron Amundson, the current developments in Evolutionary Developmental Biology could be requiring a review of the distinction between ultimate and proximal causes of the biological phenomena proposed by Ernst Mayr. In this work, I will argue that, although it is true that the dichotomy of Mayr should be revised and reformulated, this one, and also the distinction between Functional Biology and Evolutionary Biology, must be preserved; even to understand in what sense the development can be prominent for the study of evolution. Understanding the epistemological status of Evolutionary Developmental Biology only requires us to understand and formulate better that dichotomy, correcting, above all, the identification between ecological factors and evolutionary factors in which Mayr incurred.