Comments on: A Darwinian World? http://cimota.com/blog/2009/11/10/a-darwinian-world/ Matt Johnston's Blog About Tech, Innovation, Startups, Opportunity ... and Sailing Tue, 22 May 2012 17:46:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Paul May http://cimota.com/blog/2009/11/10/a-darwinian-world/comment-page-1/#comment-43260 Paul May Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:31:42 +0000 http://cimota.com/blog/?p=2063#comment-43260 I didn't say that you said it was about being biggest or strongest - I was saying that this misunderstanding is a convenient/misguided root of a lot of pseudo-darwinian economics. I didn’t say that you said it was about being biggest or strongest – I was saying that this misunderstanding is a convenient/misguided root of a lot of pseudo-darwinian economics.

]]> By: Jess http://cimota.com/blog/2009/11/10/a-darwinian-world/comment-page-1/#comment-43245 Jess Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:24:11 +0000 http://cimota.com/blog/?p=2063#comment-43245 right, ok. So, another twist. If we use the bare-basic definition of Natural Selection, there is indeed a link to even our not-quite-so-free Market culture. In nature, it's not about who's stronger, faster, etc...it's about who can reproduce. Plain and simple. If you can pass your genes onto the next generation, you are "the fittest". So, we look at a general overview of the market economy...who are the successful companies? Why, those who make money and survive to the next year. We can make laws, prevent monopolies...do what we want...but we are still letting the money-makers in business win. Sure, we give the little guys a chance to prove themselves...start-up funds, etc. But it's still all down to success. So, sure, it applies. It applies to humans still, as well. We've done LOADS to take the biology out of our 'selection', but that's not the point. Those who reproduce are successful under a Darwinian construct. They are driving the evolution of the human species. Just like business models that work are driving the changing definition of what goes into a successful business. It doesn't matter if we WANT to live in a "Darwinian" society. We don't have a choice. It's there, and we can't do anything to change it. We can change, perhaps, WHO is successful, and WHO perpetuates into the next generation (be it people or businesses), but we can't alter the concept of "natural selection". right, ok. So, another twist. If we use the bare-basic definition of Natural Selection, there is indeed a link to even our not-quite-so-free Market culture. In nature, it’s not about who’s stronger, faster, etc…it’s about who can reproduce. Plain and simple. If you can pass your genes onto the next generation, you are “the fittest”. So, we look at a general overview of the market economy…who are the successful companies? Why, those who make money and survive to the next year. We can make laws, prevent monopolies…do what we want…but we are still letting the money-makers in business win. Sure, we give the little guys a chance to prove themselves…start-up funds, etc. But it’s still all down to success.

So, sure, it applies. It applies to humans still, as well. We’ve done LOADS to take the biology out of our ‘selection’, but that’s not the point. Those who reproduce are successful under a Darwinian construct. They are driving the evolution of the human species. Just like business models that work are driving the changing definition of what goes into a successful business.

It doesn’t matter if we WANT to live in a “Darwinian” society. We don’t have a choice. It’s there, and we can’t do anything to change it. We can change, perhaps, WHO is successful, and WHO perpetuates into the next generation (be it people or businesses), but we can’t alter the concept of “natural selection”.

]]> By: mj http://cimota.com/blog/2009/11/10/a-darwinian-world/comment-page-1/#comment-43244 mj Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:02:47 +0000 http://cimota.com/blog/?p=2063#comment-43244 I didn't say it was about just being the strongest or biggest. I also used the words 'most capable' and used the example of the Peppered Moth. We will have to disagree on the application of evolution and natural selection to the individual. We've mostly used technology to bypass the forces of natural selection and our evolution is not drastic enough to be measured meaningfully. I didn’t say it was about just being the strongest or biggest. I also used the words ‘most capable’ and used the example of the Peppered Moth.

We will have to disagree on the application of evolution and natural selection to the individual. We’ve mostly used technology to bypass the forces of natural selection and our evolution is not drastic enough to be measured meaningfully.

]]> By: Paul May http://cimota.com/blog/2009/11/10/a-darwinian-world/comment-page-1/#comment-43243 Paul May Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:43:47 +0000 http://cimota.com/blog/?p=2063#comment-43243 It's fundamentally wrong to say that evolution by the process of natural selection is about being biggest, strongest - rather it's about being the most suitably adapted for an environment. This misunderstanding is then mis-applied to economics as a justification for the people at the top getting to/staying at the top by any means. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that per se, but it's got nothing to do with evolution/natural selection. Oh, and I disagree that evolution is meaningless for the individual - it's profoundly meaningful, but is open to being shaped by the human ability to plan ahead for contingency. It’s fundamentally wrong to say that evolution by the process of natural selection is about being biggest, strongest – rather it’s about being the most suitably adapted for an environment. This misunderstanding is then mis-applied to economics as a justification for the people at the top getting to/staying at the top by any means. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that per se, but it’s got nothing to do with evolution/natural selection. Oh, and I disagree that evolution is meaningless for the individual – it’s profoundly meaningful, but is open to being shaped by the human ability to plan ahead for contingency.

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