On the unfitness of natural selection to explain sexual reproduction, and the difficulties that remain.
In its essence, the explanatory potential of the theory of natural selection is based on the iterative process of random production and variation, and subsequent non-random, directive selection. It is shown that within this explanatory framework, there is no place for the explanation of sexual reproduction. Thus in Darwinistic literature, sexual reproduction - one of nature's most salient characteristics - is often either assumed or ignored, but not explained. This fundamental and challenging gap within a complete naturalistic understanding of living beings calls for the need of a cybernetic account for sexual reproduction, meaning an understanding of the dynamic and creative potential of living beings to continuously and autonomously produce new organisms with unique and specific constellations.
van Rossum
Joris
J
Department of Philosophy, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003491:Cybernetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012723:Sex