Surely the most striking aspect of the direction of evolutionary
theory is its circularity. Evolutionary theory is fundamentally
tautological. The concept of the survival of the fittest is
confirmed only by our assumption that those organisms that do
survive must be the fittest. Yet fit organisms die without
reproducing continually and species which are very successful for
epochs suddenly become extinct and not evidently always because of
catastrophe or competition.
It is also striking how recursive earth biology is. Particular
adaptations are continually repeated in quite unrelated species.
This is not because these adaptations are the most appropriate or
"fit" but rather because of the function of massively reiterated
feedback loops.
For evolution to be truly directional it would need to retain a
comprehensive database of adaptations as well as a rating system
of the relative "success" of these adaptations. It would then need
to chose only those successful adaptations in preference to others
that were less successful. Yet nature is highly redundant and
"mistakes" are endlessly repeated. It is arguable that the
relentless progression of life towards fittness would inevitibly
lead to a single specie monoculture. Maybe this is what humans
would like to achieve, it may be the direction in which
human society is heading.
What should be considered in this context is the influence of society
on evolutionary theory. Darwin's writings were profoundly influenced by
the classic capitalist era in which he lived and much subsequent
evolutionary theory is clearly reflective of contemprary capitalism,
not the other way around. Evolutionary theory is deeply
anthopomorphic.
