Natural Selection, The Concept

Natural Selection

The concept

     The concept of “Natural Selection” is extraordinarily simple, almost an oxymoron, “what works continues and what doesn’t work disappears”.  The concept of natural selection can also be applied to the study of inert physical formations and elements but the method only becomes significant when it is applied to the development of living matter.

     Darwin’s introduction to “The Origin of Species” makes it clear that his observations taught him, not how things evolve, (he disliked the term  evolution  and preferred  transmutation ), but that variations in living forms were naturally selected by being tested for their compatibility with their environment.

      “…..I am convinced that Natural Selection has been the most important, but not the exclusive, means of modification,”

     Darwin understood the process that nature uses to weed out and promote living forms according to their compatibility with their environment and he was aware that living forms were constantly changing by modifying and abandoning various characteristics. What Darwin could not explain was how these new attributes came about. For natural selection to work the reproductive process has to occasionally produce a new or altered characteristic. This continual process of modification was observable and accepted but was difficult to explain. The controversies that surrounded the term “Evolution” were primarily the result of a lack of information regarding the modification process, not nature’s actual selection process, and the controversies continued for many years until the gene was identified. Until it was realized that living characteristics were transferred in discrete units, arguments for various causes continued. Some argued that these variations were the direct result of a purposeful push by the environment. Others argued that the variations were caused by increased or decreased use of an appendage or organ, and others argued that they were unexplainable random occurrences?       

    Darwin’s choice of words to explain nature’s process of sorting through life’s emerging attributes also created controversy because he chose the word “Selection”, which carries within it the hint of a purposeful decision. This was not Darwin’s intent. He fully understood that the process is mechanical not purposeful. Darwin’s insight into nature’s selection method might have generated less controversy had he chosen, “Natural Elimination”, (the attributes favorable to a life forms continuance are incorporated in future generations because they are “left over” after attributes that are detrimental or insignificant are eliminated). However, if Darwin had chosen to describe the process by which nature measures new life against the environment as; “Transmutation through Natural Elimination”, his name would probably not have earned a place in history.

     With the discovery of the gene, and its inner workings, we now understand how living forms are randomly modified without purpose or intent, and how these random modifications are then sifted by natural selection to add their survival value to future generations. Both steps in the process, random modifications and selection by elimination, are required for life’s continued adaptations. Natural selection is a very simple process, a very efficient adaptive method, and a powerful force. The principles of Natural Selection can be used to explain more than just life’s physical attributes. Natural Selection has played a role in the advent and development of sensory organs, neurological centers for interpretation and response, long and short term memory, like kind recognition, language and more. Natural selection has been at work selecting more than just physical forms. Natural selection has also been the impetus for the advent and advancement of awareness.

     Applying the concept of natural selection to the evolution of awareness makes awareness understandable. New attributes of awareness are tested to see if they will work in a current environment just as physical attributes are tested. If they work they are transferred to future generations by genes, by example, or through language. If they don’t work they are naturally “deselected”. Natural selection explains the physical diversity and history of life. It also explains the development and diversity of awareness. Natural selection is not only Nature’s guiding hand it is also Nature’s alarm clock, and has been busy awakening the stardust forming all living forms..