Resumen

MARONE, Luis et al. La teoría de evolución por selección natural como premisa de la investigación ecológica. INCI [online]. 2002, vol.27, n.3, pp.137-142. ISSN 0378-1844.

An important critique to the Evolutionary Theory (ET) follows Karl Popper’s epistemological analysis: since there seem to be no cases excluded from ET’s explanatory power, the theory is irrefutable and should be considered unscientific. This critique extends to ecological research, where ET’s statements are often used as premises in hypothesis testing. Our own ecological studies instantiate a rather usual case: results that are -initially, at least- unexpected in the light of evolutionary-ecological thinking. Should we consider ET as a philosophical (or metaphysical) assumption of ecology, and not as a scientific one due to its irrefutability? Should we abandon ET? Up-to-date philosophy of science provides us scientists with good reasons not to give up such a fruitful theory as ET: refutability would be an insufficient criterion to characterize scientific theories, because when used alone it poses serious epistemological as well as methodological problems. Instead, the use of a set of demarcation criteria (refutability but also explanatory power, verifiability, internal coherence and external consistency or plausibility) would keep the scientific status of ET in a safe place. Yet, this is not enough. Up-to-date philosophy of science advises also to keep ET as long as it is fruitful, but at the same time it makes an emphatic call for improving ET’s predictive power by means of original and interdisciplinary biological research. In sum, this paper is an invitation to biologists and bio-philosophers to carry on thinking and modifying ET.

Palabras clave : Evolución ; Selección Natural ; pistemología; Ecología .