A Spandrel in the Works

In 1979 Stephen Jay Gould and genetecist Richard C. Lewontin presented the paper “The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme”.  What do spandrels have to do with evolution and biology?  Sometimes, things are there simply because they are.

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Works Cited

“The Dialectics of Stephen Jay Gould: Contingency, Convergence and Spandrels.” Cosmonaut, 15 July 2022, cosmonautmag.com/2022/07/the-dialectics-of-stephen-jay-gould-contingency-convergence-and-spandrels.

Gould, Stephen Jay. “The Exaptive Excellence of Spandrels as a Term and Prototype.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 94, no. 20, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Sept. 1997, pp. 10750–55. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.94.20.10750.

Hawks, John. “Stephen Jay Gould and the Role of Provocation in Science.” John Hawks, 23 Jan. 2022, johnhawks.net/weblog/stephen-jay-gould-and-the-role-of-provocation-in-science.

Lewis, Danny. “A Chin-Stroking Mystery: Why Are Humans the Only Animals With Chins?” Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chin-stroking-mystery-why-are-humans-ony-animals-with-chins-180957997.

Mind.Blown. “Robert Sapolsky – Spandrels.” YouTube, 6 July 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri7xAXW4XaA.

Pat Sweeney. “Musical Appreciation, Byproduct or Adaptation – Dawkins Interviews Steven Pinker.” YouTube, 13 Aug. 2016, youtube.com/watch?v=pj5oqYKI9xo.

“The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme.” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences, vol. 205, no. 1161, The Royal Society, Sept. 1979, pp. 581–98. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1979.0086.

Warner Archive. “Open | the Man From Atlantis | Warner Archive.” YouTube, 12 Mar. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EI6jDeRtAs.

Music in this Episode

Netherland by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Dolphin Waltz by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Sunset Stroll by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology news

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