[Cicero]

Well, actually, Darwinian theory says that each instance of gene selection and mutation IS blind chance. But then “survival of the fittest” intervenes and selects those changes and mutations that are favorable, and the unfavorable ones die off.

—Bean

[EnderWiggins]

"Well, actually, Darwinian theory says that each instance of gene selection and mutation IS blind chance. But then “survival of the fittest” intervenes and selects those changes and mutations that are favorable, and the unfavorable ones die off."

Close... but not quite.

Only the mutation is guided by "blind chance."

The gene selection is not. It is contingent, and will change direction as the environment changes (thus altering the objective criteria for "fitness.") But it is emphatically not blind.

You are confused in that you try to put "selection" at two different places in the process.