Single Idea 14801

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 3. Evolution]

Full Idea

Darwinian evolution is evolution by the operation of chance, and the destruction of bad results.

Gist of Idea

Darwinian evolution is chance, with the destruction of bad results

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (The Architecture of Theories [1891], p.320)

Book Reference

Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.320


A Reaction

The 'destruction of bad results' is a much better slogan for Darwin that Spencer's 'survival of the fittest'. It is, of course, a rather unattractive God who makes progress by endlessly destroying huge quantities of failed (but living) experiments.