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The Meaning of Efficiency

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Adaptability

Abstract

The concept of efficiency (or cost in terms of efficiency) has been used in a completely intuitive way, with the strategic motive of deferring the frustrating problem of seeking a fundamental definition. In the opinion of the author there is no hope of finding such a definition outside the circle of biological concepts themselves, that is, outside the framework of the theory of evolution. However, within this framework the idea of efficiency translates into the concept of fitness, and therefore into a form which is as elusive and primitive as fitness.

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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

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Conrad, M. (1983). The Meaning of Efficiency. In: Adaptability. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8327-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8327-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-8329-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-8327-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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