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(1992) Synthese 92 (2).
This paper examines the relationship between a family of concepts involving reliable correlation, and a family of concepts involving adaptation and biological function, as these concepts are used in the naturalistic semantic theory of Dretske's Explaining Behavior. I argue that Dretske's attempt to marry correlation and function to produce representation fails, though aspects of his failure point the way forward to a better theory.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/BF00414302
Full citation:
Godfrey-Smith, P. (1992). Indication and adaptation. Synthese 92 (2), pp. 283-312.