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Interviewer(s)
Art Woods, Marty Martin
Interviewee(s)
Samir Okasha
Description
What is an agent, and does an organism have to be conscious to be one? How does organismal agency affect evolution?
In this episode, we talk with Samir Okasha, a Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol. Samir studies fundamental philosophical questions in evolutionary biology, most notably how selection acts on various levels of biological organization. Our discussion focuses on his book “Agents and Goals in Evolution,” in which he unpacks various definitions of agency and outlines their evolutionary implications. We talk about whether genes and groups of individuals can be agents, whether agency is heritable, where variation in agency comes from, and the relationship between agency and adaptation.
Cover photo: Keating Shahmehri
Date Published
2-8-2024
Language
eng
Length of Episode
1 hour, 9 minutes, 42 seconds
Digital File Format
audio/mp3
Document Type
Podcast
Recommended Citation
Woods, Art and Martin, Marty, "Episode 115: Does a porpoise have a purpose? Agency and goals in evolution (with Samir Okasha)" (2024). BigBiology Podcasts. 118.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/bigbiology_podcasts/118