Darwinism Definition and 22 Threads

Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and others, 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. Also called Darwinian theory, it originally included the broad concepts of transmutation of species or of evolution which gained general scientific acceptance after Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, including concepts which predated Darwin's theories. English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley coined the term Darwinism in April 1860.

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  1. A

    Are these “flaws of evolution”?

    There are several facts one wonders why evolution evolved some traits that look disadvantageous. The typical example that comes to mind is the appendix that has no function in our digestive system, and it can easily become infected. But several other aspects can be cited. Wisdom teeth in humans...
  2. P

    I Help! I Don't Understand Quantum Darwinism

    I have been trying to understand quantum Darwinism and I just don't get it. It seems to be like decoherence yet I don't see any value added. I don't think I'm even understanding it. I cannot even understand what a pointer state is supose to be. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask but I...
  3. R

    Can Art Enhance Scientific Understanding?

    I am a retired architect with a big interest in physics and cosmology. I am living in Flanders (Belgium) and stumbled into this forum via a link on Bloomberg News. My background is philosophycal and technical, I have no degree in physics but several grades in other disciplines. I firmly believe...
  4. Cantor080

    Other Utility of a general math book introducing subjects not in historical order?

    I have Abstract Algebra Course, and my teacher is using the book, "Abstract Algebra" of David S. Dummit, and Richard M.Foote. This book, and other books which my teachers are using for the courses, seem to give definitions, theorems, and problems, in no historical order or are not mentioning the...
  5. F

    B What is scientific and what is not?

    ---I am not sure in which section i should post this question , so if it is wrong section kindly move it to the proper section ---- I am really confused to draw a clear line between what is science and what is not . I know science has some characteristics which differentiates it from...
  6. C

    B How Does Quantum Darwinism Relate to the Born Rule and Observer Agreement?

    Quantum Darwinism is about fragments and how different observers should observe the same thing, may I know where the born rule is applied. does the proper mixed state (or one outcome) occurs after the fragments leave the objects, halfway or when the observers received the fragments?
  7. durant35

    I Quantum Darwinism and Consciousness (?)

    I've red the paper from the father of decoherence W. Zurek called "Quantum Darwinism, Classical Reality, and the Randomness of Quantum Jumps" In his conclusion he mentions this "Quantum Darwinism shows why only such redundantly recorded pointer states are accessible to observers|it can account...
  8. Kitrak

    Why are Darwinian variations considered directional?

    I read that Darwinian mutations are considered as small and directional mutations. Why is that? Regardless of the type of mutation, a mutation (or a variation) is directionless- they are random. From what I understand, the direction is given to these variations through environmental and...
  9. bhobba

    Zureck's Quantum Darwinism Paper

    Hi Guys Quantum Darwinism came up in another thread so I thought I would go through Zurecks paper on it. http://arxiv.org/pdf/0903.5082v1.pdf Went through it years ago but know quite a bit more about the foundations of QM now. What struck me this time was his postulates: 'Quantum physics...
  10. Q

    What is the current status of quantum darwinism ?

    I see quantum darwinism mentioned quite a lot and it seems almost as it is being accepted by the world of academia as a solution to the preferred basis problem. The claim is that the "classical world" is the result of all the contradictory states just keeping records, leaving only pointer states...
  11. kyphysics

    What is the Difference Between Darwinism and Neo-Darwinianism?

    I've heard both terms used and can't figure out what people are talking about when they discuss neo-Darwinianism. What's the difference/similarities between them? Thank you guys so very much! ...and if there is yet another type of Darwinianism I'm missing, then please feel free to add that...
  12. K

    Social Darwinism: Validity of Herbert Spencer's Theory

    Is there any proven validity to Herbert Spencer's theory of social Darwinism? Or is it purely theory and conjecture?
  13. B

    Darwinism: Where is the theory?

    I recently watched a debate between believers and non-believers in Darwinism, and David Berlinski made some pithy remarks for the non-believers in Darwinism. I am going to make some of his points and ask some of the questions he asked in this thread. David Berlinski says that he agrees with...
  14. SixNein

    News Republican Platform: Is it Social Darwinism?

    Is the republican party platform essentially social Darwinism? Today's republicans strike me as a group that wants to return to the 19th century. What are your thoughts? Am I wrong?
  15. T

    Quantum Darwinism: Evidence & Supporters

    Do anybody think there is something to this quantum model Zurek has developed? Recently some evidence for it has shown up, but it seems very few support his theory?
  16. C

    Can Reproduction and Darwinism Explain Quantum Mechanics' Observer Effect?

    This is a whacky idea but i thought why not try it out here and see what folks think. This theory is based on accepting an observer-centric interpretation of qm. Many won't agree with that but its important in order to make sense of my argument. So let's pretend that the existence of an...
  17. N

    Cosmic Darwinism - Definition & Overview

    Can someone please sum up "Cosmic Darwinism" for me? I've looked on search engines and I can't seem to find anything.
  18. marcus

    Cosmic Darwinism featured in new view of the universe

    We should discuss Cosmic Darwinism. It is achieving prominence, so we should know something about it. To make the point about prominence, there's a book coming out called Beyond the Big Bang, that includes a chapter on CD, and here are some reviews of it...
  19. T

    Darwinism Not Testable: Popper's Claim

    Popper's claim: Any thoughts?
  20. X

    What is Hobbes's view on violence and civilization?

    Man's life in a state of nature, said Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, is a "war of all against all:" And in that state of nature, no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short...
  21. T

    Medical Neural Darwinism: Theory, Evidence & Debate

    I was wondering if the theory of Neural Darwinism So, I read this popularising book, talking about Neural Darwinism, (Israel Rosenfield, The invention of memory) that was contesting the idea of brain modularity (the idea that the brain is divided into functional regions, interacting which...
  22. E

    Could Epigenetic Inheritance Play a Role in Evolution?

    Is this idea refuted at all? Also, is there a possibility that Darwinism and this theory could both work in conjuction? Perhaps a hybrid of the two. Any information you're willing to contribute to my curiostiy would be greatly appreciated.
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