Indeterminacy is inherent in an inadequate model of evolution, not in nature

Plotkin & Odling-Smee's (P&O's) critique of a "monolithic theory" of evolution espoused by prominent sociobiologists draws attention to the roles of learning, culture, and society in evolution. Insofar as it opposes the simple-minded genetic determinism so prevalent in this field, it shows a positive trend of thought, although it is somewhat surprising that the authors do not make reference to previous discussions of cultural transmission by Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman (1978) or by Rao et at (1976). However, P&O's paper has several shortcomings which make the alternative model they propose untenable