Complexity and evolution: What everybody knows
The consensus among evolutionists seems to be (and has been for at least a century) that the morphological complexity of organisms increases in evolution, although almost no empirical evidence for such a trend exists. Most studies of complexity have been theoretical, and the few empirical studies have not, with the exception of certain recent ones, been especially rigorous; reviews are presented of both the theoretical and empirical literature. The paucity of evidence raises the question of what sustains the consensus, and a number of suggestions are offered, including the possibility that certain cultural and/or perceptual biases are at work. In addition, a shift in emphasis from theoretical to empirical inquiry is recommended for the study of complexity, and guidelines for future empirical studies are proposed. © 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Duke Scholars
Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Science Studies
- 52 Psychology
- 50 Philosophy and religious studies
- 31 Biological sciences
- 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 06 Biological Sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Science Studies
- 52 Psychology
- 50 Philosophy and religious studies
- 31 Biological sciences
- 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 06 Biological Sciences