Test Cases, Resolvability, and Group Selection: A Critical Examination of the Myxoma Case

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Wilson, Robert A.

• The evolution of the myxoma virus in Australia has been presented for many years as a test case for the hypothesis that group selection can function effectively ‘in the wild.’ This paper critically examines the myxoma case, and argues that its failure as a test case for this hypothesis has broader implications for debates over the levels of selection.

• Date created

  2004

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Ecological Competition
  • Myxoma
  • Group Selection
  • Natural-selection
  • Viruses
  • Rabbits
  • Myxoma Virus
  • Virulence
  • Disease Transmission
  • Evolution

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3RN30N97

• License

  © 2004 Philosophy of Science Association. All rights reserved.