Towards a general theory of evolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence W. Deacon
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Physical System ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Chemical Mechanisms ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Selective Retention ◽  
Far From Equilibrium ◽  
Natural Selection Theory

Towards a general theory of evolution argues that defining natural selection in terms of “blind variation and selective retention”— as in A-life and replicator selection—ignores the fact that what varies is necessarily part of a far-from-equilibrium physical system that requires physical work to be produced. But natural selection theory is agnostic about the physical-chemical mechanisms underlying the maintenance, repair, and reproduction of organism structures and functions. A more general theory of evolution is proposed that includes an account of a type of process able to reconstitute the organization of the physical system capable of producing that process if damaged.

Does culture evolve by means of Darwinian selection? The lessons of Candide’s travels

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Guillo
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Theoretical Approach ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Darwinian Selection ◽  
Universal Algorithm ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Biological Phenomena

The meaning of the concept of natural selection undergoes important changes when it circulates, through the use of analogies, between the realms of biological and cultural phenomena. These changes are not easily detected, but they are unavoidable. They have to do with differences between the properties of cultural phenomena and those of biological phenomena: in particular, the absence of the equivalent of a Hardy–Weinberg law for culture. These differences make it necessary to translate the concepts of classic population genetics into the language of transmission. This translation enables the theorists discussed here to build a unitary general theory of evolution (GTE) based on analogies between biological and cultural evolution, and at the same time to single out their differences. But the unity and the rigor of this theoretical approach are merely apparent. The concept of selection as it is defined here loses, in its three spheres of application – GTE, culture but also biology – the meaning and explanatory power it has in classic population genetics. This means that the mechanism of Darwinian selection cannot be considered as a universal algorithm that is valid for both biological and cultural phenomena alike.

scholarly journals Bydraes van Darwin se voorgangers tot die Ewolusieteorie

1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
J. H. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Selection Theory ◽  
Phylogenetic Classification ◽  
Natural Selection Theory

A review of the literature with respect to ideas and hypotheses on evolution, prior to Darwin’s Origin of Species, reveals that many biologists long before Darwin postulated theories similar to his natural selection theory. The relation between phylogenetic classification and evolution, as well as the epigenetic theory of evolution, was postulated nearly fifty years be­fore Darwin. With this review of the literature an attempt is made to put Darwin and his forerunners in a better perspective with each other.

Darwinian Evolutionary Theory

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ruse
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Descent Of Man

Charles Robert Darwin, the English naturalist, published On the Origin of Species in 1859 and the follow-up work The Descent of Man in 1871. In these works, he argued for his theory of evolution through natural selection, applying it to all organisms, living and dead, including our own species, Homo sapiens. Although controversial from the start, Darwin’s thinking was deeply embedded in the culture of his day, that of a middle-class Englishman. Evolution as such was an immediate success in scientific circles, but although the mechanism of selection had supporters in the scientific community (especially among those working with fast-breeding organisms), its real success was in the popular domain. Natural selection, and particularly the side mechanism of sexual selection, were known to all and popular themes in fiction and elsewhere.

Ewolucja. Twórcza moc selekcji

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Dzik
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Evolutionary Developmental Biology ◽  
Homeotic Genes ◽  
Time Dimension ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Theory Of Evolution

An instructive introduction to the theory of evolution and its applications in biology, physics, chemistry, geology and humanities. The author shows that evolution is a physical process, occurring in geological time dimension, describes how the Darwin’s theory of natural selection works in immunology, neurobiology, sociology as well as in certain aspects of culture and political institutions. He also shows the effects achieved through the action of selection in different areas of biological and social life. He discusses such problems as: the ambiguity of the term “theory of evolution”, the falsifiability of evolutionary hypotheses, connection between evolution and thermodynamics, the concept of reductionism, methodological background of phylogenetics, cladistics, evolutionary developmental biology and homeotic genes, as well as the cumulative nature of social and cultural evolution.

scholarly journals A Field Guide for Teaching Evolution in the Social Sciences

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristine Legare ◽  
John Opfer ◽  
Justin Busch ◽  
Andrew Shtulman
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Teaching Evolution ◽  
Field Guide ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
The Social ◽  
Evolution Understanding

The theory of evolution by natural selection has begun to revolutionize our understanding of perception, cognition, language, social behavior, and cultural practices. Despite the centrality of evolutionary theory to the social sciences, many students, teachers, and even scientists struggle to understand how natural selection works. Our goal is to provide a field guide for social scientists on teaching evolution, based on research in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and education. We synthesize what is known about the psychological obstacles to understanding evolution, methods for assessing evolution understanding, and pedagogical strategies for improving evolution understanding. We review what is known about teaching evolution about nonhuman species and then explore implications of these findings for the teaching of evolution about humans. By leveraging our knowledge of how to teach evolution in general, we hope to motivate and equip social scientists to begin teaching evolution in the context of their own field.

scholarly journals Myelin can't change the basic mechanisms of axonal conduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro M Morelli ◽  
Isabella Panfoli
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Conduction Mechanism ◽  
Chemical Mechanisms ◽  
Axonal Conduction ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Myelinated Nerves ◽  
New Hypothesis ◽  
Precise Role

We propose a new hypothesis about the physical-chemical mechanisms of nerve conduction in myelinated nerves, tending to bridge the theoretical gap existing to date between the basic neuronal activity and its adaptation to myelination. All the considerations imply a simplification of the underlying theories, identifying a precise role for myelin. The ATP-supplying energetic role for myelin allows to overcome the theories that have not yet found a physical-chemical solid confirmation. A radical simplification of nerve conduction mechanism is envisaged: it can be supposed that this mechanism remains unaltered in the passage from the unmyelinated to the myelinated conditions.

scholarly journals Agrowisata Berkelanjutan Berbasis Kopi di Satria Agrowisata Desa Manukaya, Kecamatana Tampak Siring, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali (Studi Evolusi Pariwisata)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 262
Author(s):  
Febrytha Nur Azizah ◽  
I Putu Anom
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Tourist Attraction ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Alternative Tourism ◽  
The World ◽  
Tourism Activity ◽  
Main Attraction

Agro-tourism is an alternative tourism activity that relies on plantations and agriculture as its main attraction. Along with the development of tourism, agro-tourism has now become an economic driving commodity for the surrounding community, so that agro-tourism is increasingly taken into account in the world of tourism. The development of an agro-tourism can not be separated from the evolutionary process that occurs through various stages of the beginning of the tourist attraction built until now. This study aims to determine the evolution of developments in Satria Agrowisata. The research method used is descriptive qualitative by conducting data collection techniques through online interview as primary data, and conducting online observations as secondary data. The results show that Satria Agrowisata can adapt well to the various changes that exist and continue to innovate in order to survive in the world of tourism until now. In Darwin's theory of evolution, he put forward two key words in his theory, natural selection and adaptation. Natural selection as a mechanism for evolutionary change, and adaptations that occur in its development over time.   Keyword: Evolution, Agrotourism, Satria Agrowisata, Bali.

scholarly journals Onset of natural selection in auto-catalytic heteropolymers

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexei V. Tkachenko ◽  
Sergei Maslov
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Information Entropy ◽  
Physical System ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Darwinian Evolution ◽  
Living Matter ◽  
Spontaneous Reduction ◽  
Nano Structures ◽  
Opening Up

Reduction of information entropy along with ever-increasing complexity are among the key signatures of living matter. Understanding the onset of such behavior in early prebiotic world is essential for solving the problem of origins of life. To elucidate this transition, we study a theoretical model of information-storing heteropolymers capable of template-assisted ligation and subjected to cyclic non-equilibrium driving forces. We discover that this simple physical system undergoes a spontaneous reduction of the information entropy due to the competition of chains for constituent monomers. This natural-selection-like process ultimately results in the survival of a limited subset of polymer sequences. Importantly, the number of surviving sequences remains exponentially large, thus opening up the possibility of further increase in complexity due to Darwinian evolution. We also propose potential experimental implementations of our model using either biopolymers or artificial nano-structures.

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