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Measuring Group Fitness In A Biological Hierarchy: An Axiomatic Social Choice Approach

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  • Bossert, Walter
  • Qi, Chloe X.
  • Weymark, John A.

Abstract

This article illustrates how axiomatic social choice theory can be used in the evaluation of measures of group fitness for a biological hierarchy, thereby contributing to the dialogue between the philosophy of biology and social choice theory. It provides an axiomatic characterization of the ordering underlying the Michod–Viossat–Solari–Hurand–Nedelcu index of group fitness for a multicellular organism. The MVSHN index has been used to analyse the germ-soma specialization and the fitness decoupling between the cell and organism levels that takes place during the evolutionary transition to multicellularity. It is argued that some of the axioms satisfied by the MVSHN group fitness ordering are not appropriate for all stages in this transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Bossert, Walter & Qi, Chloe X. & Weymark, John A., 2013. "Measuring Group Fitness In A Biological Hierarchy: An Axiomatic Social Choice Approach," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(3), pages 301-323, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:ecnphi:v:29:y:2013:i:03:p:301-323_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Samir Okasha & John A. Weymark & Walter Bossert, 2013. "Inclusive Fitness Maximization : An Axiomatic Approach," Cahiers de recherche 05-2013, Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ.

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