Beyond Natural Selection

Humans are not simply the result of a mechanistic process. In this broad inquiry, Robert Wesson proposes an approach to evolution that aims to be more in harmony with modern science and more meaningful for the comprehension of our existence. He emphasizes the importance for evolution of inner direction and the self-organizing capacities of life. This view is better able to account for the chaotic nature of the evolutionary process and the inherent propensity of complex dynamic systems to grow more complex with time. A large number of examples of plants and animals support this idea, and Wesson's account includes both documented scientific facts and anecdotes about the odd aberrations in natural selection. Wesson also points out that Darwinism and neo-Darwinism explain only part of the richness of contemporary biota and, in fact, even deny the reality of the most important features of evolution. Complex systems such as the human eye, the sonar apparatus of bats, and the electric organs of some fish are infused with patterns better described by the methods of modern chaos theory. He begins with a description of Darwinian theory and the controversies over its application and then proceeds to show why natural selection cannot sufficiently account for the development of the multitude of modern species. Along the way Wesson addresses a number of issues, including the implications for Darwinian theory of the incomplete fossil record, the often extravagant and apparently useless developments around sex, and an ethical challenge to Darwin's insistence on survival of the fittest. He explains the ways genetic patterns or attractors influence evolution and considers the relationship of heredity and environment as well as genetic and behavioural response to external signals. Wesson concludes this study by applying evolutionary theory to humans, summarizing the long term trend of evolution and discussing the relationship between the way we understand evolution and development of human values.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 The conventional theory - "it is solved": the "neo-Darwinist synthesis"; variants of the theory; the commitment to Darwinism; the religious challenge. Part 2 The universe of complexity: limits of reductionism; higher laws; the new outlook of science; modernizing Darwinism. Part 3 The cryptic record: problems of origins; the leap into the air; between land and ocean. Part 4 Inventive nature: the wonder of life; remarkable structures; fantastic behaviours; intelligent instincts; problems of creativity. Part 5 Inconsistent nature: adaptation; nonadaptation; infertility; premature death. Part 6 The question of sex: the role of sex; sexual practices; why sex? Part 7 Sociality: social animals; social insects; theory of altruism; social specialization. Part 8 Dynamics of evolution: the genetic medley; the problem of information; attractors in the genome; variation; the role of chaos; feedback; summary. Part 9 The power of attractors: coherence of pattern; limits of change; parallel evolution; the meaning of parallelism; evolutionary inertia. Part 10 Evolutionary change: speciation; molecular change - microevolution; structural change - neoteny; fixity; radiation; extinction; summary. Part 11 Positive adaptation: the presistence of Lamarckism; the responsive genome; adaptive variation; behavioural adaptation; learning; instinct. Part 12 Evolution and humanity: becoming human; the evolution of intelligence; intelligence and brain; the mind; sociobiology; cultural evolution. Part 13 Conclusions and perspectives: the autonomy of the genome; the direction of evolution; the evolution of evolution; the anthropic principle; the essence of evolution; moral meaning of evolution.