Neo-Lamarckian elements of Skinnerian selectionism

Evolutionary biology has been a stage of debates between neo-Darwinian and neo-Lamarckian theories. Neo-Darwinism explains every evolutionary process in terms of the selection of random genetic variations. Thus, whatever takes place in the individual’s life history, in its development and learning, does not interfere in the evolutionary course. Whereas, neo-Lamarckian theory upholds the existence of multiple sources of variation, not always random ones, on which selection operates; it also concedes that development and learning may influence evolution. The goal of this essay is to show that Skinner’s model of selection displays features of a neo-Lamarckian evolutionary theory. It concludes that such approximation would help behavior analysis to actively participate in contemporary discussions about evolutionary biology.