Definition
Darwinism
Darwinism is the theory of biological evolution stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
Perspectives from What Is Intelligence?
from What is Intelligence
While classical Darwinism focuses on branching and incremental mutation, recent computational and thermodynamic perspectives suggest that it represents only “half of the story”—the fine-tuning and optimisation phase.
The Thermodynamic Lens
From the perspective of dynamic stability, Darwinian selection is equivalent to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. A more effective replicator is more stable than a less effective one. In this view, evolution is the inevitable transformation of matter from less stable to more stable (replicating) forms.
Darwinism vs. Symbiogenesis
Classical theory primarily accounts for the diversification of species (e.g., Darwin’s finches). However, major leaps in complexity often occur through symbiogenesis—the merger of existing entities—rather than random point mutations.
Observation
Point mutation is a relatively weak driver of innovation compared to higher-order symbiotic events. Chunks of code that have already evolved functionality (such as viruses or transposable elements) can be integrated into a genome, providing “pre-packaged” complex features that mutation would take much longer to produce.
Computational Requirements
As John von Neumann noted, for a system to be capable of open-ended Darwinian evolution, it must possess a “tape” (instructions) that is separate from the “constructor” (the machinery), allowing arbitrary design changes to be inherited.