Daniel S. Milo

A stimulating contribution to the history of ideas. Milo shows how Darwin’s concept of ‘natural selection’ was based on radical speculation and the misinterpretation of his own observations. Biologists after Darwin (with a few exceptions) became propagandists for a view of nature as efficient, averse to chance, and competitive. Milo rejects the ethics derived from ‘survival of the fittest’ and proposes instead a view of nature as tolerant of the ‘good enough.’

The pursuit of excellence is an admirable calling for some, but it is just one among many, including truth, faith, work, family, serenity, love, peace, pleasure, health, thrill, and fun. It is only because we—the public, always, and biologists in their constant, unscientific assumption of adaptation—mistake natural selection for natural law that the lust for excellence continues to receive the imprimatur of nature, while these other pursuits are deemed epiphenomenal. … (plus d'informations)