Tag Archives: evolutionary theory

Thomas Fazi and I have been discussing the shape of our next book and I think it will be an interesting and worthwhile followup to Reclaiming the State: A Progressive Vision of Sovereignty for a Post-Neoliberal World (Pluto Books, 2017). We hope it will be published some time late in 2019. One of the angles that will be delved into is the way in which neoliberal narratives and constructs have permeated individual consciousness. Yes, sounds a bit psychological doesn’t it. But there is a...

Must-read.Joe Brewer elaborates on the foundation for contemporary problem solving at the macro level. It's short and to the point. This is going to take specialists in a variety of fields and generalists to tie it together. Being complex and therefore subject to emergence, it's always a work in progress as seizing opportunities leads to fresh challenges.ResilienceSociety As Platform — A New Frontier in Complexity Science Joe Brewer

Evolution, the theory that has already proven itself for understanding the rest of life, is equally relevant for understanding the human condition. With understanding comes improvement. Thus, evolutionary theory can be used to improve the quality of human life in a practical sense.... HuffPostProof That Policies Informed by Evolution Can Succeed Where Other Perspectives Have Failed David Sloan Wilson | SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University and...

Weekend reading for those of wide-ranging interests. It's on Daniel Dennett's contribution to the study of consciousness and his synthetic approach that blends many fields, biology and evolutionary theory in particular. Digressions&ImpressionsDennett as Synthetic PhilosopherEric Schliesser | Professor of Political Science, University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Evolutionary theory meets artificial intelligence and the management of algorithms. EvonomicsEvolving the New Economy: Tim O’Reilly and David Sloan WilsonDavid Sloan Wilson, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University and Arne Næss Chair in Global Justice and the Environment at the University of Oslo, interviews Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media

Interesting exploration of Nassim Taleb's systematic thought and its implicitly evolutionary basis. Global Inequality The importance of Taleb’s system: from the Fourth Quadrant to the Skin in the Game Branko Milanovic | Visiting Presidential Professor at City University of New York Graduate Center and senior scholar at the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS), and formerly lead economist in the World Bank's research department and senior associate at Carnegie Endowment for International...

Why is this important to know about? Liberalization is changing the conditions for sexual selection, a primary evolutionary input.  This is taking place not only in China but also in some other traditional societies, although it is resisted in others.  From the standpoint of evolutionary theory and group selection, it is a big deal.  Arguably, one factor in America's success has been "the melting pot," and the looser ground rules for sexual selection are key. This is just one of...

A study that analyzed large-scale genetic data from more than 200,000 people showed that the human genome is still evolving. Researchers form Columbia University found that a natural selection process weeds out mutations that shorten human life.… Don’t imagine, however, that it’s the kind of evolution you see in X-Men — sorry, no mutant powers just yet. However, it’s the type of evolution that could occur in one or two generations, and can prolong human life.... World Economic ForumThis...