[Doctor Stochastic]

Then you haven't understood at all. Survival of the fittest is an ex-post concept, not an ex-ante. (I would have called it survival of the adequate, but my suggestion came too late.) You should read some biology texts.

Mutations (and other genetic happenings) propose and selection disposes. There's no teleology, just survival. Sometimes (as in the Toba erruption), location is important. Sometimes disease resistance is important. Sometimes naturally curly hair is important.

[unspun]

Then you haven't understood at all.

Understandable that you've said so. I'll get back to you in a few hours or days. Thanks.

[unspun]

Then you haven't understood at all.

Understandable that you've said so. I'll try get back to you in a few hours or days. Thanks.

[unspun]

Then you haven't understood at all. Survival of the fittest is an ex-post concept, not an ex-ante. (I would have called it survival of the adequate, but my suggestion came too late.) You should read some biology texts.

Mutations (and other genetic happenings) propose and selection disposes. There's no teleology, just survival. Sometimes (as in the Toba erruption), location is important. Sometimes disease resistance is important. Sometimes naturally curly hair is important.

I am using the word "purpose" here not necessarily to determine cause and effect. My use of the word "purpose" is to describe relationship between an animal or person and that being's environment (everything with which the being interacts with). If you prefer to substitute words such as "functional relationship," or "orientation" those would work, too.