Why evolution explains more than we think

12/12/2025 1h 2min Temporada 88 Episodio 88

Listen "Why evolution explains more than we think"

Episode Synopsis

Evolution is often misunderstood as a process limited to biology and genes. In this in-depth conversation, evolutionary ecologist Mark Vellend challenges that narrow view and presents a powerful idea: evolution is a universal principle that governs all complex systems.In this episode of Reason with Science, we explore how evolution applies not only to living organisms, but also to languages, technologies, cultures, institutions, scientific theories, economics, and artificial intelligence. Drawing on his book Everything Evolves: Why Evolution Explains More Than We Think (From Proteins to Politics), Mark Vellend explains why evolutionary theory deserves recognition as a general science of change, alongside physics.We discuss:-•What makes a system evolutionary in the most fundamental sense• Why Darwinism shaped — and narrowed — our understanding of evolution• How languages evolve through everyday use and variation• Why technologies advance through trial, error, and selection• How cultural norms, ideas, and institutions evolve over time• The role of randomness, contingency, and selection beyond biology• Evolutionary thinking in AI, economics, and complex systems• Tipping points, feedback loops, and irreversible change in ecosystems and societiesThis episode is essential viewing for scientists, students, educators, philosophers, and anyone curious about how the world changes — from cells to civilizations.📘 Book discussed: Everything Evolves by Mark Vellend🎙️ Podcast: Reason with ScienceGuests infoWebsite : https://mvellend.weebly.com/Linked in : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mark-vellend-everything-evolves-princeton-university-press-is5xcEpisode links: Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/why-evolution-explains-more-than-we-thinkYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYqQOPph6QoSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CQdIDnDABUPMCkgoy4gCL?si=U6zufCa_RMqckOQijL4n1AApple podcast: YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=yYqQOPph6Qo&si=gGOJsq0EzY7rldSHFollow Reason with Science: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5bTimestamps:00:00:00 Evolution Is Everywhere: From Nature to Ideas, Technology & Culture 00:01:05 What Makes Something an Evolving System? 00:02:05 Introducing Mark Bellant and His Research 00:03:17 Evolution as a Universal Process 00:05:13 Why Evolution Goes Beyond DNA and Genes 00:06:45 Language and Culture as Evolving Systems 00:07:45 Technology, Trial-and-Error, and Innovation 00:09:01 Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism, and the Modern Synthesis 00:11:01 How Biology Narrowed Our View of Evolution 00:13:01 The “Second Science”: Generalized Evolutionary Theory 00:20:49 Selection Beyond Biology: Culture, Tech, and Society 00:30:30 Randomness, Contingency, and Predictability 00:56:31 Tipping Points and Irreversible Change 01:04:39 Evolution in Ecology, Economics, and Society 01:07:55 Why Understanding Evolution Changes How We See the World #evolution #evolutionexplained #trendingvideo #podcast #biology #culturalevolution #languageevolution #sciencepodcasts #reasonwithscience #philosophyofscience #science #evolutiontheory #sciencetalks #youtubevideo #viralvideo

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