Group adaptation, formal darwinism and contextual analysis

Group adaptation, formal darwinism and contextual analysis.

We consider the question: under what circumstances can the concept of adaptation be applied to groups, rather than individuals? Gardner and Grafen (2009, J. Evol. Biol.22: 659-671) develop a novel approach to this question, building on Grafen's 'formal Darwinism' project, which defines adaptation in terms of links between evolutionary dynamics and optimization. They conclude that only clonal gr...

Title: Group Adaptation, Formal Darwinism and Contextual Analysis

1 We consider the question: under what circumstances can the concept 2 of adaptation be applied to groups, rather than individuals? Gardner 3 and Grafen (2009) develop a novel approach to this question, building on 4 Grafen’s ‘formal Darwinism’ project, which defines adaptation in terms 5 of links between evolutionary dynamics and optimization. They conclude 6 that only clonal groups, and to a ...

From Formal Concept Analysis to Contextual Logic

A main goal of Formal Concept Analysis from its very beginning has been the support of rational communication. The source of this goal lies in our understanding of mathematics as a science which should encompass both its philosophical basis and its social consequences. This can be achieved by a process named ’restructuring’. This approach shall be extended to logic, which is based on the doctri...

Darwinism renewed: contemporary studies of plant adaptation.

One hundred fifty years after On the origin of species was first published (Darwin, 1859), biologists continue to share Darwin’s fascination with the adaptive traits of organisms, and to theoretically and empirically expand his initial formulation of natural selection as the process that shapes those traits. In this special issue of the journal, New Phytologist recognizes this continuing legacy...

Darwinism and social Darwinism.