Michael Denton has a new book, “Evolution: still a theory in crisis“. So I picked up a copy, and will review it in this post. I actually purchased the Kindle version of the book.
Structuralism vs functionalism
Denton outlines the main gist of his argument in chapter 1, where he explains that he is a structuralist rather than a functionalist. He expands on that in later chapters.
Denton seems to be using “functionalism” to describe what I would call “pan-selectionism” or “pan-adaptationism”. So he would see Dawkins, and probably Jerry Coyne, as functionalists. Denton himself prefers structuralism, which is an emphasis on the forms or body plans (he uses the term “bauplan”) of organisms (or groups or organisms).
I’m inclined to say “a pox on both of their houses”. I am not a pan-selectionist. I usually say that I am not a Darwinist, for I see Darwinism as an over-emphasis on natural selection. To me, Denton’s preference for structuralism seems strange. Surely the structural features are their because of their functional role.
In section 1.1, Denton writes:
It is hard to imagine two scientific frameworks as diametrically opposed as structuralism and functionalism. Whereas functionalism suggests that function is prior and determines structure, structuralism suggests that structure is prior and constrains function.
The Heretical Philosopher 