The random number generator generator (or monkeys at typewriters) analogy is deeply flawed. The entire point of natural selection is that it is non-random. Thi

The random number generator generator (or monkeys at typewriters) analogy is deeply flawed. The entire point of natural selection is that it is non-random. Think instead of a stochastic optimization process that provides feedback at each iteration, and introduces psuedo-random noise that is seeded from the previous iteration. To extend our metaphor to ridiculous lengths, consider instead of a room full of monkeys typing away randomly, you have a machine that punishes monkeys that type in the "wrong direction," and rewards monkeys type something that is approximately closer to War and Peace. After each reward/punishment round, the monkeys would start their editing on strings that were rewarded in the previous round. This process would be expected to converge much more quickly.