Abstract

This chapter discusses a mechanism for evolution different from Darwin’s variation and selection: combinatorial evolution. In this mechanism, novel elements are created by combining earlier existing elements, and they become available as building blocks for creating yet further novel elements. This defines a mechanism of heredity: The system evolves. Combinatorial evolution was introduced as a concept in Arthur (2009) and it since has received widespread attention. This chapter examines how combinatorial evolution works and shows that it occurs naturally in a class of systems that includes technology, chemistry, mathematics, computation, language, and parts of biology.

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