James DiFrisco (Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research & KU Leuven)
Recently, several theorists have argued against the prevailing phylogenetic conception of homology in favor of a novel developmental view. They argue that homologues must be tied to their developmental causes in order to be individuated and to be explained. In this paper I show that this is not the case. Developmental views also face empirical and conceptual difficulties in light of indications from recent evolutionary biology that molecular and morphological evolution are de-coupled to a significant degree. I argue that although development often explains homology, it should not be construed as providing a distinct definition of homology, and thus pluralism about homology concepts is unmotivated.
