

How power explains the history of life (Ep 114)
7 snips Jan 25, 2024
Geerat Vermeij, a paleoecologist and evolutionary biologist, talks about power as a driving force in the history of life. He discusses how power has evolved in different organisms, the role of power in human history, and the need to curb our power. The podcast explores topics such as power dynamics, agency in evolution, and the perils of human power monopoly.
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Paleontology's Shift
- Paleontology has shifted from descriptive cataloging towards broader questions.
- Focus on organismal natural history remains a minority view.
Escalation and Asymmetry
- Escalation describes how organisms adapt to rivals and enemies, not just prey.
- Selection pressure is asymmetrically stronger from enemies than prey.
Power as an Extension of Escalation
- Power, energy use per unit time, is a natural extension of escalation concepts.
- It directly measures ecological interactions and their evolutionary consequences.