Concepts View

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Gaia Hypothesis

The idea that conditions at the Earth’s surface are maintained in a habitable state by self-regulating feedback mechanisms involving life and elements of its abiotic environment.

References:

Lenton, T. et al. (2020). “Selection for Gaia at multiple scales.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution 33:633–645.

Allied Concepts:
Agency (General, or Minimal), Autonomy, Ecosystem Engineering, Niche construction, Regulation (or, Biological Regulation), Robustness
Related Clusters:
Higher-Level Agency and Directionality in Ecology and Earth Science
Topical Filter:
Ecology and Earth System Science

Gene’s-Eye View of Evolution

A heuristic approach to evolutionary problems based on the suggestion that evolution can be described as a competition between alternative genetic replicators, which behave as if they are seeking to increase their inclusive fitness. In this approach, genes besides the focal gene are treated as part of the environment of the focal gene.

References:

Ågren, A. (2021). The Gene’s-Eye View of Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Allied Concepts:
Adaptation, Interactor, Natural selection, Replicator, Selfish Gene Theory
Related Clusters:
Higher-Level Agency and Directionality in Ecology and Earth Science, (Re)Conceptualizing Function and Goal-Directedness
Topical Filter:
Adaptation and Adaptationism, Causation in Development and Evolution, Models of agency and cooperation