On the Adaptability Range, Self-Selection, and Economic Nature of Biological Evolution

Abstract

This article employs a combined approach of biology and economics to reveal that biological evolution has an economic nature, evolving towards improved energy efficiency. The orthodox Darwinian theory of evolution describes evolution as the random variation of organisms and their survival through natural selection. In fact, the natural environment itself is a constantly changing context, and the strategy to adapt to this change is to enhance behavioral capabilities, thereby expanding the range and dimensions of behavior. Therefore, the improvement of behavioral capabilities is an important aspect of evolution. The enhancement of behavioral capabilities expands the range of adaptation to the natural environment and increases the space for behavioral choices. Within this space of behavioral choices, some options are more effective and superior to others; thus, the ability to select is necessary to make the improved behavioral capabilities more beneficial to the organism itself. The birth and development of the brain serve the purpose of selection. By using the brain to make selections, at least the “better” behavior will be chosen between two alternatives. Once the better behavior yields better results, and the organism can associate these results with the corresponding behavior, it will persist in this behavior. The persistent repetition of a behavior over generations will form a habit. Habits passed down through generations constitute a new environment, causing the organism’s genes to activate or deactivate certain functions, ultimately leading to genetic changes that are beneficial to that habit. Since the brain’s selection represents the organism’s self-selection, it differs from random variation; it is also a rational selection, choosing behaviors that either obtain more energy or reduce energy consumption. Thus, this evolution possesses an economic nature.