Towards a More General Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection: A Manifesto

Abstract

In this manifesto for a more comprehensive account of evolution by natural selection (ENS), we draw on Hull’s framework to expand the reach of Darwinian explanations. His approach is centered on the notions of interactor and replicator. He (and many others following him) defines the interactor in terms of cohesiveness. Often, such cohesiveness is cashed out by the vertical transmission to the next generation of the replicators that constitute the interactors. While we maintain the importance of the reciprocal influence of interactors and replicators (the differential extinction and proliferation of interactors leads to the differential extinction and proliferation of the replicators that produce them) central to Hull’s framework, we downplay the importance of the cohesiveness of interactors and eliminate any need for lineage formation among them. This suggested revision of the interactor synthesizes various recent contributions in the field, and it allows the interactor/replicator framework to tackle more complex entities. Our approach, however, stands in stark opposition to the classical approach to ENS centered on lineage formation. In this paper, we present our view and argue that it should replace the classical approach in structuring future work in evolutionary biology.