Quote:
|
Quote by: gallo Not sure of the context of your remark since no one has mentioned Spencer's theory of social economics, i.e., "survival of the fittest." Of course, as everyone is aware, Darwin didn't like the phrase and objected strongly to its application to his theory of natural selection. Nevertheless, it was the Christian and spiritualist Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-developer of the theory of natural selection, who finally convinced Darwin to use the phrase, mostly because its use had become so popular. Darwin used it in the 4th through 6th editions of his book, "On the Origin of Species." But Darwin never used it alone and always made a reference to natural selection in the same sentence.
But of course, "fitness" is a term that has meaning in a biological context, just as is "adaption." But they aren't what most people think. An adaption is a change in an organism that results in increased fitness. And of course, fitness is a measure of an organisms ability to produce a large number of offspring that survive to reproduce themselves. But those definitions have been arrived at since Darwin's time. The best description of Darwin's theory is differential reproductive success. |
Let me explain what I mean a little better, I'm not an expert on this and I'm not a scientist, but the way I see it is: If it can adapt, it survives. But like you said an adaptation in an organism then results in increased fitness. So whatever evolves/adapts the necessary means to survive and reproduces then it's the fittest.
But what looks like what's happening with these elephants is being speeded up by mankind.....kill all the elephants with the tusks, they don't have a chance to mate and pass that gene along, so that trait dies out. Sad.
Sad, the plethra of wildlife that is already become extinct due to man. Been studying about the Florida Everglades, that's a real travesty. We are actually pumping freswater into the ocean! so people living in South Florida wont get flooded! and due to overpopulation, the South Floridans experience water shortages! Does not make alot of sense to me....anyhoo, back on topic....*blush*