Suppes predicate for genetics and natural selection

Patrick Suppes' slogan that "to axiomatize a theory is to present a set-the oretical predicate" was used in the synthetic theory of evolution. The syst em presented here extends the axiomatics of the evolutionary theory present ed by M. Williams to encompass aspects of genetics. Some biological implica tions of the system are discussed, including the relationship between the D arwinian concept of fitness, as applied to organisms, and the concept of fi tness as applied to genotypes, as it is normally used in population genetic s. This paper should be viewed as an adjunct to the speculations on the log ical-mathematical foundations of biological sciences. (C) 2001 Academic Pre ss.