scholarly journals Troubles with the evolutionary theory of self-deception

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-17
Author(s):  
Igor Zivanovic
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Proper Function ◽  
False Beliefs ◽  
Evolutionary Biologist ◽  
Psychological Phenomenon ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race ◽  
As If

The evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers was the first to address the well-known psychological phenomenon of self-deception from the standpoint of natural science. According to Trivers, self-deception evolved as an offensive strategy in the evolutionary arms race between the deceiver and the deceived. Though apparently both tenable and plausible, Trivers? evolutionary theory of self-deception, which takes the enhancement of interpersonal deception as the proper function of self-deception, is burdened with the number of difficulties. In this paper, I will argue that it is conceptually impossible for self-deceivers to deceive others about false beliefs they have falsely acquired as if they were true. If interpersonal deception is the conceptual impossibility for self-deceivers, then interpersonal deception cannot be the proper function of self-deception.

scholarly journals Coevolving Predator and Prey Robots: Do “Arms Races” Arise in Artificial Evolution?

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Nolfi ◽  
Dario Floreano
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Robotics ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Artificial Evolution ◽  
Arms Races ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race ◽  
Adaptive Power ◽  
Competing Populations

Coevolution (i.e., the evolution of two or more competing populations with coupled fitness) has several features that may potentially enhance the power of adaptation of artificial evolution. In particular, as discussed by Dawkins and Krebs [3], competing populations may reciprocally drive one another to increasing levels of complexity by producing an evolutionary “arms race.” In this article we will investigate the role of coevolution in the context of evolutionary robotics. In particular, we will try to understand in what conditions coevolution can lead to “arms races.” Moreover, we will show that in some cases artificial coevolution has a higher adaptive power than simple evolution. Finally, by analyzing the dynamics of coevolved populations, we will show that in some circumstances well-adapted individuals would be better advised to adopt simple but easily modifiable strategies suited for the current competitor strategies rather than incorporate complex and general strategies that may be effective against a wide range of opposing counter-strategies.

scholarly journals Comment on “Information arms race explains plant-herbivore chemical communication in ecological communities”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Bass ◽  
André Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Communication ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Plant Herbivore

Zu et al (Science, 19 Jun 2020, p. 1377) propose that an ‘information arms-race’ between plants and herbivores explains plant-herbivore communication at the community level. However, our analysis shows that key assumptions of the proposed model either a) conflict with standard evolutionary theory or b) are not supported by the available evidence. We also show that the presented statistical patterns can be explained more parsimoniously (e.g. through a null model) without invoking an unlikely process of community selection.

Alternative functions of CRISPR–Cas systems in the evolutionary arms race

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prarthana Mohanraju ◽  
Chinmoy Saha ◽  
Peter van Baarlen ◽  
Rogier Louwen ◽  
Raymond H. J. Staals ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arms Race ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race

Cooperation, Coordination, and Collective Action

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Cronk ◽  
Beth L. Leech
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Coordination Problems ◽  
Evolutionary Biologist ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Two Bodies

This book investigates a wide range of ideas, theories, and existing empirical research relevant to the study of the complex and diverse phenomenon of human cooperation. Issues relating to cooperation are examined from the perspective of evolutionary theory, political science, and related social sciences. The book draws upon two bodies of work: Mancur Olson's The Logic of Collective Action (1965) and George C. Williams's Adaptation and Natural Selection (1966). Olson, an economist, and Williams, an evolutionary biologist, both argued that a focus on groups would not provide a complete understanding of collective action and other social behaviors. This introductory chapter discusses some important definitions relating to cooperation, with particular emphasis on collective action and collective action dilemmas, along with coordination and coordination problems. It also provides an overview of the chapters that follow.

scholarly journals Insect egg‐killing: a new front on the evolutionary arms‐race between brassicaceous plants and pierid butterflies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie Griese ◽  
Lotte Caarls ◽  
Niccolò Bassetti ◽  
Setareh Mohammadin ◽  
Patrick Verbaarschot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arms Race ◽  
Insect Egg ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race

scholarly journals The evolutionary arms race between transposable elements and piRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiqi Luo ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Yuange Duan ◽  
Xinmin Yao ◽  
Andrew G. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race

scholarly journals Fruits, frugivores and the evolutionary arms race

2002 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Tewksbury
Keyword(s):  
Arms Race ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race

How to win an evolutionary arms race

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 70-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Somayaji
Keyword(s):  
Arms Race ◽  
Evolutionary Arms Race
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document