The inevitability of the process of natural selection — Take II
Ideas percolate. Through natural selection, the best ones survive — Andew Lo
The primary objectives for a biological entity are survival and reproduction. Without these characteristics, the particular form would cease to exist, and we would not be talking about it. Survival and reproduction stand as the fundamental goals for all biological forms. Absent these traits, the form would not persist, rendering our conversation about it moot.
Rene Descartes posited the philosophical assertion, “I think, therefore I am” underscoring the presence of the self as a cognitive being. This proclamation pertains to an individual’s consciousness and self-awareness.
In a similar vein, one might metaphorically assert, “I possess the instinct to survive and reproduce, hence I am a biological form.” This implies that the existence of these instincts affirms the being’s identity as a form of biological life, given that these instincts are essential to life itself.
Where might the origins of these two traits — survival and reproduction — for biological entities lie? We could go back to the beginning of biology, to the self-replicating molecules, and ponder whether the concepts of survival and reproduction were inherent to them also.
By definition, a self-replicating molecule inherently possesses one of the two fundamental traits — reproduction. However, survival is not merely about the capacity to reproduce, but also encompasses the ability to endure and exhibit resilience within a specific environment.
Should a self-replicating molecule lack the ability to preserve its structure amidst environmental adversities (akin to an ‘instinct for survival’), it would either deteriorate or be superseded by other molecules exhibiting greater stability or replication efficiency. Thus, in the absence of this survival instinct, the molecule’s existence would indeed be short-lived.
Consequently, the self-replicating molecules, endowed with the inherent traits of survival and reproduction, underwent continuous evolution, and led the foundation for all life forms.
If, during this process, a presumptuous life form emerged, declaring its lack of need for either survival or reproduction instincts, it was told by others ‘c’est la vie’ and ‘see you later, alligator,’ as they continued on their survival and reproductive journey that led to us.
The instinct for survival and reproduction in an environment with limited energy also gave rise to another fundamental principle that drives biological entities. This principle is none other than natural selection and evolution. The logic for this necessity goes as follows.
To compete effectively in a resource-constrained environment, a biological entity must possess a characteristic that enables it to secure available resources more efficiently than others. This allows it to be fit for survival and reproduction, and to produce more offspring. Over generations, this advantageous trait becomes increasingly prevalent in the future population, leading to the emergence of a new species and the progression of evolution.
Consequently, the instinctive ability of biological entities to survive and reproduce, coupled with the necessity to compete in an energy-limited environment, culminates in the process of natural selection and evolution. This is an inevitable result of the interplay between these two factors.
The process of natural selection is a Darwinian Inevitability of competition between self-replicating forms for resources when living in an energy limited environment.
Ciao.
