Nature's Magic: Synergy in Evolution and the Fate of Humankind
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 1st.Edition, 7/10/2003
EAN 9780521825474, ISBN10: 0521825474
Hardcover, 468 pages, 23.3 x 16 x 3.4 cm
Language: English
Nature's Magic presents a bold vision of the evolutionary process from the Big Bang to the 21st century. Synergy of various kinds is not only a ubiquitous aspect of the natural world but it has also been a wellspring of creativity and the 'driver' of the broad evolutionary trend toward increased complexity, in nature and human societies alike. But in contrast with the many theories of emergence or complexity that rely on some underlying force or 'law', the 'Synergism Hypothesis', as Peter Corning calls it, is in essence an economic theory of biological complexity; it is fully consistent with mainstream evolutionary biology. Corning refers to it as Holistic Darwinism. Among the many important insights that are provided by this new paradigm, Corning presents a scenario in which the human species invented itself; synergistic, behavioral and technological innovations were the 'pacemakers' of our biological evolution. Synergy has also been the key to the evolution of complex modern societies, he concludes.
1. Prologue
the new evolutionary paradigm
2. The enchanted loom
3. The magic castle
4. Black magic
5. The synergism hypothesis
6. The 'Sorcerer's Apprentice'
7. Conjuring human evolution
the synergistic ape
8. Conjuring history
does cultural evolution have an 'arrow'?
9. The science of history
10. Conjuring the future
what can we predict?
Afterword
Endnotes
Bibliography.