Evaluating the generality of the optimization (adaptationist) view of evolution

Ascertain whether framing evolution as an optimization process can yield broadly applicable scientific insight beyond a limited set of well-chosen examples where biological constraints are easily identified.

Background

The essay discusses perspectives that treat evolution as an optimization engine, noting that biological systems are subject to numerous and diverse constraints. This raises doubts about the general explanatory power of the optimization viewpoint.

The author explicitly states uncertainty about whether this approach can provide insight beyond carefully selected cases with clearly identifiable constraints, highlighting the need to evaluate its generality.

References

The constraints are likely so numerous and diverse in nature, that it is unclear if this line of thinking can yield much insight beyond some well chosen examples where these constraints are easy to identify.

— A twenty-first century statistical physics of life (2410.20506 - Mehta, 27 Oct 2024) in Footnote 26 (in the discussion of why a new statistical mechanics of life is needed)