The Main Evolutionary Ideas of Modern Biological Knowledge. An Outline of the Historical and Methodological Analysis

The aim of this article is to show the methodological principles that govern the interrelationship of the main ideas, concepts, and theories of modern biology. In recent years, several prominent biological researchers attempted to offer insights into the development of biological knowledge. However, a critical examination of these attempts indicates that a methodological analysis is a more fitting approach for achieving this goal. Indeed, the challenge of establishing inter-theoretical connections between biological theories and discoveries falls not within the purview of biology itself but rather within the methodology of biology. This paper explores the key research findings that determine the vertical order of biological knowledge, thereby deepening our cognitive understanding of this field. It also explores the theoretical advancements that expand the horizontal scope of this knowledge. The conceptual framework is illustrated through two diagrams Map I and Map II, which illustrate the methodological structure of biological ideas, concepts, and theories from the era of Linnaeus to the early 21st century. Map II further demonstrates how complex explanatory narratives can be constructed based on contemporary biological and evolutionary knowledge.