Everything2
Near Matches
Ignore Exact
Full Text
Everything2

Survival of the fittest

created by The Other Dan

(idea) by rp (5.1 d) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Sat Nov 13 1999 at 9:13:28

A phrase, I would say, used by those who do not adequately explain evolutionary theory.

The basic thesis of Darwinian evolution is that random changes can lead to nontrivial adaptations by means of natural selection, a continuous process which preserves those variants that fit in best with the situation at that time and place.

Hence, "survival of the fittest". It is not a tautology.

(idea) by SpudTater (4.9 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Sun Nov 26 2000 at 20:21:13

The phrase "survival of the fittest" was not coined by Darwin, but by Herbert Spencer, a Victorian 'social darwinist'.

The social darwinists used Darwin's theory of evolution as the justification for the economics of that era. However, they neglected to consider one thing; just because something is natural, it doesn't mean that it is right.

(idea) by Fluffy The Cat (1.8 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Nov 23 2001 at 18:44:02

As far as evolutionary biology goes, fitness is entirely a measure of your ability to reproduce and pass on your genes. An organism that is incredibly strong, lives for years, slaughters all that stand in its way and in the process produces two offspring is less fit than another member of the same species that's unable to fight at all, dies when it's half the age of the other but produces four offspring. The fittest do not necessarily survive, but their genes do.

printable version
chaos

playing cards Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God How to cross the road in Europe social Darwinism
Ten reasons why creation scientists don't believe in evolution why natural selection does not work in this day and age tautology Evolution
coffee pot telemetry Natural selection Sugar Bear How to break Laissez-Faire Capitalism
How to fight and not get your ass kicked My Argument For Abortion Most pernicious misconception about evolution geek groupie
Homosexual equivalent of a pregnancy scare genetic algorithm fish farming Natural evolution
Magic: The Gathering The Zombie Survival Guide November 2, 2004 A thought at 3am
Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.
   Epicenter
Login
Password

password reminder
register

Everything2 Help

Cool Staff Picks
What you are reading:
Li Bai
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Ogg Vorbis
Heavy weather in the city of dreams
The screams grow in green ice
Summer storm
Your piercing intelligence would undo or invigorate me
If you're hungry, blame me
Gazebo
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Paradox
Gone in Sixty Seconds - Theatre Quest Entries
The origins of the American accent
New Writeups
jessicaj
violin lessons(thing)
fallensparks
George's Marvellous Medicine(thing)
Ctrl Y
cognitive dissonance(fiction)
SharQ
Gone Baby Gone(review)
halfWit
If I could, I'd title this "Freedom"(thing)
Roninspoon
Airline Hero(thing)
Ktistec
Why Women Are Always Cold(person)
doctor wilson
Drug policy reform(thing)
tejasa
Easy Raspberry Cheesecake(recipe)
Joysim
Drug policy reform(idea)
aneurin
Tyburn(place)
niruena
Boiling to death(idea)
artman2003
summer(thing)
doctor wilson
The Silver City and the Silent Sea(log)
Dreamvirus
The Silver City and the Silent Sea(poetry)
This page courtesy of The Everything Development Company