the utility of biodiversity from an evolutionary perspective

Jagers, Gerard | Paperback / softback | 30-11-2016 | 9789050114431

The Pursuit of Complexity
What use is biodiversity, and does it matter if species die out?
These controversial questions arouse considerable debate.
Most people believe they represent a moral dilemma, but
The Pursuit of Complexity shows that it is possible to explore
them in a scientific way.
Author Gerard Jagers op Akkerhuis takes us back to the underlying
fundamental questions: What actually is usefulness, or utility?
What is evolution? What is life? What is biodiversity? And how
important are human beings in all this? According to him we
have to look at evolution in an entirely different way. If we do
that we see that it follows predictable patterns, and that it is
possible to anticipate the next stage in the evolutionary process.
His surprising answers and provocative predictions keep the
reader in suspense. He invites us to engage in a new type of
discussion, one that encompasses not only the scientific and
philosophical issues, but also their practical implications for
nature conservation.
The Pursuit of Complexity is written in clear terms for a broad audience,
from biologists and nature conservationists, philosophers,
futurists, researchers and students to politicians, policymakers
and anyone with an interest in nature and curious about what
constitutes life.