For population genetics, a population is specified by the frequencies of genotypes without
reference to the age distribution, physiological state as a reflection of past history, or
population density. A single population or species is treatedat a time, and evolution is ...

Richard Levins's 1966 article" The strategy of model building in population biology" is an
extremely influential analysis of the nature of scientific model building. His claims that model
building involves a necessary trade-off among generality, realism and precision, and that ...

Ecologist Richard Levins argues population biologists must trade‐off the generality, realism,
and precision of their models since biological systems are complex and our limitations are
severe. Steven Orzack and Elliott Sober argue that there are cases where these model ...

Abstract In this essay, I argue for four related claims. First, Richard Levins' classic “The
Strategy of Model Building in Population Biology” was a statement and defense of
theoretical population biology growing out of collaborations between Robert MacArthur, ...

In our 1993 paper,“A Critical Look,” Elliott Sober and I concluded that the famous claim
about model formulation and constraints made by Richard Levins in his influential 1966
article on model building in population biology is neither true nor normative. Here, I ...

... coalitions, scan the relevant environment for opportu- nities and threats, formulate strategic
responses, and ... Clearly, leaders of organizations do formulate strategies and organiza- tions do
adapt to ... will be adaptive for many competing organi- zations adopting a similar strategy. ...

... Dunbar, 1984; RIM Dunbar; Reproductive Decisions: An Economic Analysis of Gelada Baboon
Social Strategies. Princeton Univ. ... Levins, 1966; R. Levins; The strategy of model building in
population biology. Am. ... May, 1973; RM May; Stability and Complexity of Model Ecosystems ...

... If the account given above describes one ''strategy'' for theorists, then what are the others ... But
the two strategies are still distinct, and one does involve a kind of indirectness that is not ... be
re-interpreted as the other, but this re-interpretation is itself a new move, a strategic choice of ...

... with like- lihood estimation and inference, analysis of variance and linear model terminology,
and ... age, body condition), which need to be taken into account in modeling survival. ... binomial
structure (Table 1) and parameterization, the devel- opment of survival models for this ...

... OPTIMAL-DESIGN MODELS AND MODEL BUILDING STRATEGY 545 ... That is, a design shared
by members of a population is often attributed to the effects of natural selection when 1) the design
in question is optimal according to a particular optimality model, and 2) there ...