New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Mark Vellend, "Everything Evolves: Why Evolution Explains More than We Think, from Proteins to Politics" (Princeton UP, 2025)
Sep 27, 2025
Mark Vellend, a biology professor and author of Everything Evolves, dives into how evolutionary principles shape everything from bacteria to technology. He discusses the intersection of physics and evolution, challenging the idea that Darwin's theories are the beginning of evolutionary thought. Vellend explains how even man-made technologies can evolve and explores the implications of artificial intelligence embracing evolutionary processes. He also touches on the significance of diversity, adaptation, and the impacts of global homogenization.
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Two Sciences: Physics And Evolution
- The "second science" is the science of evolution that explains how complex cultural and biological phenomena arise.
- Physics sets constraints, while evolution sets the rules for historical emergence and change.
Avoid The Darwinian Distraction
- Obsessing over Darwinian specifics (genes, random mutation) can block broader evolutionary thinking.
- Generalized evolution doesn't require gene analogues or strictly random variation to apply outside biology.
Evolutionary Soundboard Framework
- Evolution requires variation, inheritance, and differential success across any system, biological or cultural.
- Vellend models these components as eight adjustable dials on an "evolutionary soundboard."
