Functional explanations are legitimate only when a feedback mechanism is specified that selects for the trait because of its consequences, as Elster argued against Cohen's structural Marxism.

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Feedback mechanism(required condition for legitimate functional explanations): A process where the results of something happening loop back to influence whether that thing continues or gets stronger—like how success breeding more success creates a feedback loop.
G.A. Cohen(the subject of the debate being referenced): A British philosopher (1941-2009) who wrote about fairness and justice, and was famous for challenging and improving upon other philosophers' ideas about equality.
Jon Elster(as a major theorist of adaptive preferences): A Norwegian philosopher who studies how people make decisions and form desires, particularly interested in how our circumstances shape what we want.
Trait(what feedback mechanisms select for): A characteristic or feature of something, especially a quality that exists because it's been selected for or favored in some way.

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