Natural Selection as the sum over all histories

TL;DR

This paper explores the analogy between evolution and the principle of least action, suggesting that evolution follows paths of least resistance aligned with ultimate causation, and introduces an equation of motion for coevolution responding to environmental changes.

Contribution

It proposes a novel framework linking evolution to the principle of least action and formulates an equation of motion for coevolution based on Lewontin's model.

Findings

Evolutionary paths align with ultimate causation vectors.

Rate of evolutionary change responds to environmental shifts.

Small hope for mass extinctions driven by climate change.

Abstract

If evolution can be connected to the principle of least action, and if it is depicted in evolution space versus time then it corresponds to the direction of ultimate causation. As an organism evolves and follows a path of proximate causation, if the vector is closely parallel to that of the ultimate causation then the changes will confer desirable attributes which will lead to further development. If however the variations do not occur in a direction close to the of the ultimate causation vector the evolved organism will quickly die out. This may be viewed as similar to Feynmans sum over all histories. Therefore, the principle of least action gives a direction, but not a purpose, to evolution. Taking the coevolution model of Lewontin, an equation of motion for coevolution shows that it is the rate of evolutionary change that responds to changes in the environment, in line with some evidence. In the face of widely held views on mass extinctions because of climate change this gives some small hope.