Evolution of plants, animals: “A very special case within a far larger natural phenomenon.” Similar marvels occur with stars, planets, minerals, other complex systems; When a novel configuration works well and function improves, evolution occurs. A paper in the prestigious Proceedings of the Nati
I will read this paper. But, based on this article, I’m not impressed. The notion of a natural structure “working well” smacks of the sort of teleological bullshit people who do not understand biological evolution say to fill in gaps in understanding.
Biological systems evolve because they self replicate. That provides a mechanism form change, and a metric of success which feeds back positively into itself. Systems that do not self replicate might evolve, but according to what mechanism? The article seems to insist there is a universal drive, which is to say… some teleological bullshit.
Being funded by the John Templeton Foundation certainly doesn’t do anything for the credibility of the paper.