Bengt Autzen
The paper examines the relationship between the effects a trait has on survival and reproduction, and notion of functional efficiency underlying the biostatistical theory of health. The paper argues two points. First, the paper criticises the notion of functional efficiency used in the biostatistical theory of health and argues that a formal measure is needed to assess a trait's net effect on survival and reproduction. Second, the paper argues that there is no non-arbitrary way of weighing the effects on survival and reproduction in such a measure.
