A Theory of Evolution as a Process of Unfolding
Start Date: February 2016.
Affiliations:
1) Museo de La Plata (MLP), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2) Centro de Estudios de Historia de la Ciencia y la Técnica José Babini (CEJB), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3) Laboratorio de Investigación en Ciencias Humanas (LICH-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Affiliations:
1) Museo de La Plata (MLP), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2) Centro de Estudios de Historia de la Ciencia y la Técnica José Babini (CEJB), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3) Laboratorio de Investigación en Ciencias Humanas (LICH-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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A Theory of Evolution as a Process of Unfolding
In this work I propose a theory of evolution as a process of unfolding. This theory is based on four logically concatenated principles. The principle of evolutionary order establishes that the more complex cannot be generated from the simpler. The principle of origin establishes that there must be a maximum complexity that originates the others by logical deduction. Finally, the principle of unfolding and the principle of actualization guarantee the development of the evolutionary process from the simplest to the most complex. These logical principles determine the existence of a virtual ideological matrix that contains the sequence of the preformed and folded morphogenetic fields. In this manner, the evolutionary process consists of the sequential unfolding and actualization of these fields, which is motorized by a process of teleologization carried out by the opening consciousness of the forms included in the fields of the ideological matrix. This theory leads to a radical change of perspective regarding the materialist worldview, and places life at the center of the evolutionary process as an activity carried out by a consciousness that seeks to fulfill a purpose by actualizing its own potentialities.
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The Evolution Concept: The Concept Evolution
This is an epistemologically-driven history of the concept of evolution. Starting from its inception, this work will follow the development of this pregnant concept. However, in contradistinction to previous attempts, the objective will not be the identification of the different meanings it adopted through history, but conversely, it will let the concept to be unfolded, to be explicated and to express its own inner potentialities. The underlying thesis of the present work is, therefore, that the path that leads to the development of the concept of evolution is the path that studies the possibilities of the evolution of concepts, and that the historical reconstruction of its conceptual trajectory will shed light into potential and unexploited possibilities. This methodology will provide useful tools and resources for future developments of the concept. For example, it will define the concept of transmutation as a different conceptual trajectory deviating from the one corresponding to evolution, at the onset of the 19th century. Moreover, epigenesis will not be the opposing concept to evolution, but only to simultaneous and instantaneous generation. It will demonstrate that every important system of epigenesis drew upon some kind of formative power to explain development. More importantly, it will show that the problem of preformation cannot be overlooked, and that some kind of virtual preformation must be considered in order to address the problems of generation and development.
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