| 释义 |
adaptationist, a. and n.|ædæpˈteɪʃənɪst|
[f. adaptation n. + -ist.]
A. adj. Biol. Of, pertaining to, or holding a view of the evolution of morphological features which stresses adaptation by natural selection.
1978Sci. Amer. Sept. 161/1 Their work is informed by the adaptationist program, and their aim is to explain particular anatomical features by showing that they are well suited to the function they perform. 1983Man XVIII. 786/2 La Fontaine may well choose not to identify with the adaptationist paradigm..but this should not lead her to characterise the biological approach as in any sense pitted against cultural explanations. 1987Nature 9 July 121/2 Foley's approach to evolution is strictly neo-darwinian and (despite his protestations) equally strictly adaptationist. 1988J. Gleick Chaos 201 So an adaptationist explanation for the shape of an organism or the function of an organ always looks to its cause, not its physical cause but its final cause.
B. n.
1. Biol. One who stresses the role of adaptation in evolution, esp. one who holds that every morphological feature of an organism is the result of adaptation for a specific purpose.
1982R. Dawkins Extended Phenotype iii. 31 History seems to be on the side of the adaptationists, in the sense that in particular instances they have confounded the scoffers again and again. 1982New Scientist 6 May 360/2 The cladist uses his method to construct a taxonomy; the comparative adaptationist inverts the technique. 1983Thornhill & Alcock Evolution Insect Mating Syst. i. 11 An extreme adaptationist would interpret this behavior in the following way.
2. Ecol. One who believes that human beings will adapt their behaviour to accommodate changing climatic conditions. Chiefly N. Amer.
1991Washington Post 22 Sept. c1/2 A temperature rise of two or three or four degrees spread out over 50 or 60 years? No big deal, say these adaptationists. 1991Gazette (Montreal) 16 Oct. b2/5 The point of view of the so-called ‘adaptationist’ is not only shortsighted but also stupid. 1992Washington Times 19 June f2/5 Stephen Schneider was one of the first ‘adaptationists’ (i.e., moderates) in the global warming debate. |