Cause and function in behavioural biology: A tribute to Jerry Hogan

Abstract

This special issue of Behavioural Processes is dedicated to the contributions of Jerry A. Hogan to behavioural biology—or ‘ethology’ as this field used to be known. These contributions are manifold, and have inspired many researchers, not only in ethology, but also in experimental psychology and behavioural neuroscience, as can be seen from the different contributions to this issue. Hogan has conducted pioneering research into the causation and development of animal behaviour. In addition, he has written extensively on the theoretical foundations of the field. In particular, he has emphasised the logical distinction between cause and function in behavioural biology. This is a fundamental distinction, and its misinterpretations have often led the field astray. That this discussion is still ongoing is exemplified in several papers in the present issue (Lefebvre, 2015, Bolhuis, 2015 and Laland, 2015).