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Stephan Jay Gould derided this "best possible" view of Darwinian selection as the Panglossian Paradigm, in his criticism of the adaptationist viewpoint. The on
by dalke 12y ago
Stephan Jay Gould derided this "best possible" view of Darwinian selection as the Panglossian Paradigm, in his criticism of the adaptationist viewpoint.
The only way it works is by accepting Pangloss's tautological use of "best", that is, everything that exists is the best possible, and whatever we have in the future must also be the best possible.
Truly we live in the best of all possible worlds.
- toomuchtodo 12y agoThis assumes that only the most optimal decisions, choices, or outcomes will succeed, which is flat out false. We live in a great world, but there are many other possibilities where it could be better if better decisions, choices, our outcomes had taken place.