Citation
Life's Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe
TL;DR
Convergent evolution is far more common than traditionally recognized
Conway Morris argues that convergent evolution is pervasive and predictable - the same solutions arise repeatedly because the fitness landscape has a limited number of peaks. This controversial thesis suggests evolution is more deterministic than traditionally assumed.
For business strategy, this implies that when environmental constraints are strong, convergence is not just likely but near-inevitable. Resisting convergence in such contexts wastes resources fighting 'evolutionary physics.' The book provides extensive documentation of convergence across biological systems.
Key Findings from Morris (2003)
- Convergent evolution is far more common than traditionally recognized
- The same solutions evolve repeatedly because viable options are constrained
- Evolution may be more predictable and deterministic than random
- The fitness landscape has a limited number of peaks, driving convergence