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The Wonderful Crucible of Life's Creation: An Essay on Contingency versus Inevitability of Phylogenetic Development

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Abstract

In this paper I discuss the question of whether life processes are contingent or inevitable, particularly when viewed on a long, phylogenetic scale. In my opinion, this contrast does not exist. Rather, the perception of a dichotomy is the result of differences in how measurements are made or in the way data processing is carried out. Observations made in one way result in the conclusion that phylogenetic development is contingent and that process outcomes are, as a consequence, entirely unforeseeable. Clear trends could have shown up with different observations. Furthermore, differences in approach or in philosophical attitude could also result in life processes appearing to be either contingent or inevitable. Such diverse and complex processes can probably best be studied by adopting an integrated approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecotoxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam

    R. Hengeveld

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  1. R. Hengeveld
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leiden University, The Netherlands

    Thomas A.C. Reydon

  2. Wageningen University, The Netherlands

    Lia Hemerik

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Hengeveld, R. (2005). The Wonderful Crucible of Life's Creation: An Essay on Contingency versus Inevitability of Phylogenetic Development. In: Reydon, T.A., Hemerik, L. (eds) Current Themes in Theoretical Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2904-7_6

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