Walter Veit
This paper argues for the explanatory power of EGT models in three distinct but closely related ways. First, following Sugden and Aydinonat & Ylikoski I argue that EGT models are created parallel worlds i.e. surrogate systems in which we can explore particular (evolutionary) mechanisms by isolating everything that could be interfering in the real world. By specifying the pool of strategies, the game and the fitness of the strategies involved, EGT explores potential phenomena and dynamics emerging and persisting under natural selection. Given a particular phenomenon, e.g. cooperation, war of attrition, costly signalling, EGT enables the researcher to explore multiple ‘how-possibly’ explanations of how the phenomena could have arisen and contrast them with each other, e.g. sexual selection, kin selection and group selection. Secondly, I argue that by eliminating ‘how-possible’ explanations through eliminative induction, we can arrive at robust mechanisms explaining the stability and emergence of evolutionary stable equilibria in the real world. In order for such an eliminative process to be successful, it requires deliberate research in multiple scientific disciplines such as genomics, ethology and ecology. This research should be guided by the assumptions made in the applications of particular EGT models, especially the range of parameters for payoffs and the strategies found in nature. Thirdly, I argue that in order to bridge the gap between the remaining set of ‘how-possibly’ explanations to the actual explanation requires abduction, i.e. inference to the best explanation. Such inference shall proceed by considering issues of resemblance between the multiple EGT models and the target system in question evaluating their credibility. Together these three explanatory strategies will turn out to be sufficient and necessary to turn EGT models into a genuine explanation.
