Please distribute...
You are hereby invited to our
seventh "Evolution, Complexity and Cognition
(ECCO)" seminar of
2005:
r-K Selection and Human
Development:
from quantity to quality of
life
Francis Heylighen & Jan
Bernheim
(ECCO, VUB)
Place: room 3C204 (building
C, 3rd floor), VUB campus Oefenplein
Time: Friday, March 18, at
17:30 h.
Abstract: Evolutionary fitness is defined as the number of an
organism's offspring likely to survive, apparently privileging
quantity, rather than quality, of life. However, models of population
growth distinguish between "r-selection", that occurs in
unpredictable and risky environments, and "K-selection",
characterizing stable environments. If offspring has a high
probability to be killed by predators, disease, or other
uncontrollable factors, the safest bet is to produce as many of them
as quickly as possible (r). If offspring has plenty of chances to
mature, but needs all its strength and intelligence to efficiently
exploit scarce resources, it is wiser to aim for quality (K). The
choice between the two strategies depends on early experience: people
raised in a stressful environment exhibit typical r-traits, such as
many and early sexual contacts, large families, risk-taking, and short
life expectancy; in a safe environment, they will typically have lower
fertility and higher life expectancy and invest in long-term benefits
such as education. Socio-economic development with its accompanying
demographic transition and drive to maximize quality-of-life can be
viewed as a shift from an r to a K strategy by
humanity.
Further info: F. Heylighen &
J. Bernheim (2003): From quantity to quality of
life (ECCO working
paper)
ECCO seminar programme following weeks
- Klaas Chielens: Empirical measurement
of memetic selection criteria
- Laetitia De Jaegher: The need for new systems of governance in a complex, changing society
- Nathalie Gontier: A systems/symbiotic view of evolution
- Nick Deschacht: Complexity Theory and Marxism
ECCO seminars normally take place
each Friday at 17h30 in room 3C204 of the VUB Campus Etterbeek.
Everyone interested is welcome. The seminars are very interactive,
with small groups (about 8-10 people). The intention is to discuss in
depth the research being proposed, and to look for interdisciplinary
connections with other ECCO-related themes. Seminars last about two
hours, after which the remaining participants go to take a drink or a
snack in the Opinio Caf� on the campus, to continue the discussion
in a more relaxed setting.
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