A Unified Theory of Evolution

In the latest version of his book- The Future of Life: A Unified Theory of Evolution, the Director of the Future of Life Research Centre- David Hunter Tow provides additional confirming evidence for a generic basis for the evolutionary process, extending the Darwinian paradigm beyond biology.

David Tow believes that the ramifications of such a unified theory are immensely significant, ranging from greater insight into the evolutionary origins and future of life, to a deeper understanding of the relationship between the evolution of life and the wider universe.

The theory represents the first comprehensive formulation of the hypothesis that evolution is the unifying force underlying the dynamics of all processes in the universe- both organic and inorganic. These include all facets of life’s existence and human knowledge including the sciences, technology, arts, humanities and religion.

It is further proposed that evolution at its core is a quantum information process, which can be modeled using complex decision networks.

Over recent years in particular there has been an increasing debate about the limits of Darwin’s original evolutionary paradigm, with a number of scientists and philosophers postulating extensions beyond biology to encompass behaviour, ideas, culture and technology.

However, no theory has previously attempted to demonstrate that all processes in the universe might be governed by the same evolutionary principles, using an information and network paradigm to underpin its verification.

The first edition of this book was published in 2000 and provided significant empirical evidence to support the original hypothesis; drawn from the vast spectrum of human knowledge including- biology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, ecology, cosmology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, artificial intelligence and philosophy.

This was a radical reinterpretation of evolutionary theory, postulating that all processes in the universe, beyond biological phenomena, are governed by the same core evolutionary principles at the information level.

The second version published in 2006, extended the original hypothesis by defining the underlying theoretical basis for such a unified theory, in the form of the D-Net model- Decision-Network Evolutionary Theory- based on quantum information and network theory.

This third version of the theory in 2010, now draws all the evidential threads together, updating the empirical evidence and providing additional rigour to the D-Net model.
Of particular significance cited in support of the theory, is compelling evidence from Wojcieck Zurek’s ground- breaking research, published in 2009, on Quantum Darwinism- induced superselection by the environment of preferred quantum states or ‘Einselection’.
In addition, a number of case studies straddling evolution at the generic level have been outlined, across the range of key natural phenomena.

The overwhelming weight of such evidence at both the empirical, as in Darwin’s methodology and current theoretical level, provides strong Bayesian statistical support for the theory.

The book also explores the implications for the future of life and humanity, on this planet and in the universe.
Understanding and interacting with the evolutionary process at this deeper and more comprehensive level, offers in the author’s opinion, a clearer and more intuitive view of both our past and future.

Further development of this theory will now rest with the wider scientific community. Hopefully the framework defined in this book will provide a catalyst for a vast new field of knowledge discovery that will lead to a brighter future for all life.

A preview of this book is freely accessible from Google Books