Victoria Pendleton

there is no need to invoke a metaphysical/epistemological debate about which branch of understanding has the greatest explanatory power to see that biology has a solid claim here. philosophy has its uses (not least of which is the philosophy of science) but at some point you have to admit that the scientific method is a very powerful explanatory tool when applied correctly - such as understanding biology.

debating metaphysics and epistemology here would achieve little more than obfuscation of the well demonstrated, well understood, observed facts - namely that in the real world biological entities are subject to biological processes, and these include hormones which cause different features in male and female animals (and people).

gender politics must accept that.

See, Tim, what you wrote there is exactly what I meant when I said what the debate is about--you're advocating one of the points of view that I outlined. For the record, philosophy is in an atrocious state right now and biology is punching well above its weight. But as I said, it's too big a debate to have on the forum. :)