noun
- Plural of adaptationism; the theory or practice of explaining biological traits primarily as adaptations shaped by natural selection.
Usage: technical; biology; philosophy of science
Examples
- Critics of strict adaptationisms argue that not all traits are direct products of natural selection.
- Different adaptationisms compete in evolutionary biology to explain the origin of complex features.
- The debate between adaptationisms and other evolutionary mechanisms continues in academic circles.
- Some scholars reject narrow adaptationisms in favor of more pluralistic evolutionary models.