The paradox of evolution : the strange relationship between natural selection and reproduction

The Resource The paradox of evolution : the strange relationship between natural selection and reproduction
Label
The paradox of evolution : the strange relationship between natural selection and reproduction
Title remainder
the strange relationship between natural selection and reproduction
Statement of responsibility
Stephen Rothman
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"In [this book], psychologist Stephen Rothman exposes a major, through remarkably amost completely neglected problem with Darwin's theory of evolution. Its two essential elements, natural selection and reproduction, are in important respects contradictory. In considering their relationship, Rothman makes the revolutionary claim that the evolution of life's complex and diverse reproductive mechanisms is not the consequence of natural selection. In so doing, he exposes the deepest question possible about life's nature-- its reason for being. In meticulously detailed but accessible terms he lays out the crux of the paradox and offers an intriguing solution within a naturalistic framework. In an obstensibly purposeless universe, somehow purposeful life has evolved. For all living things there are two overarching purposes: survival and the creation of new life. Natural selection is about the survival of existing life but has no interest in life's future, whether it persists or perishes. By contrast, reproduction is only about the future of life and has no interest in existing life except as a means to an end. Where do these purposes come from? As Rothamn demonstrates, at every level life is wired to react to danger. Counterintuitively, without danger life would neithr have come into being nor evolved. In the same way, death drives the creation of new life and has propelled the evolution of the mechanisms of reproduction. Written with great clarity and informed by deep learning, this elegant, thoughtful work tackles some of the most challening questions raised by the theory of evolution." -- P. [4] Cover
Cataloging source
DNLM/DLC
Dewey number
572.8/38
Index
index present
LC call number
QH390
LC item number
.R68 2015
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
NLM call number
  • 2016 B-840
  • QU 475

Context

Context of The paradox of evolution : the strange relationship between natural selection and reproduction

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