Evolution

What are the limits of human potential?

Denis Noble suggests that intent and purpose are critical to evolution, representing a significant departure from traditional Darwinian perspectives. This view emphasizes the agency of organisms in evolutionary processes and proposes a more holistic understanding of how life evolves and adapts.

1. Purposeful creativity: Noble argues that life is "purposefully creative" in maintaining its integrity and adapting to changes. He states that life's actions are "essentially directed to this purpose" and that "life exists to exist".
2. Multi-level functionality: Noble proposes that biological functionality occurs at multiple levels, not just the genetic level. This systemic view emphasizes the complexity and interconnectedness of living systems.
3. Organism-centred approach: Noble believes that evolution acts on the organism as a whole, with the organism harnessing randomness and variation to create and heal itself—on purpose.
4. Fundamental to evolution: In Noble's re-evaluation of evolutionary theory, he considers purpose, creativity, and innovation as fundamental aspects of evolution.
5. Immune response example: Noble sees evidence of purposive and intentional evolution in our immune response to viruses, suggesting that the organism's immune system initiates and orchestrates the process to fight off invaders.
6. Challenging gene-centrism: Noble's perspective challenges the traditional gene-centric view of evolution, arguing for a more holistic approach that includes purpose and intention.
7. The Third Way: Noble is part of a movement in evolutionary biology that views natural selection as part of a holistic, organism-centred process, implying a more purposeful approach to evolution.