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Natural selection

A process in which differences in survival and reproduction are caused by phenotypic differences in a population. For natural selection to result in evolutionary change, these phenotypic differences must be heritable (so, evolution by natural selection requires heritable variation in fitness).

References:

Gildenhuys, P. (2019), "Natural selection.” In E.N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2019 Edition).

Niche construction

A process whereby organismic activities alter some aspect of the environment, which in turn influences the selective pressures experienced by a population. (Note: the recipient of niche construction can be either the niche constructing population or a different population.)

References:

Matthews, B. et al. (2014). “Under niche construction: an operational bridge between ecology, evolution and ecosystem science.” Ecological Monographs 84:245–263.

Normativity (Natural)

The quality of being subject to “natural” norms or standards: that is, norms or standards that can be explained in terms of facts about natural things (historical, organizational, etc).

References:

Davies, P.S. (2001). Norms of nature: naturalism and the nature of functions. Cambridge (MA): The MIT Press.