From Larry Fast
Thank you for the all-too-brief article on super-evolution among the “50 Ideas” (9 October, p 32). It is clear enough to me that surviving millions of years is about resilient ecosystems, not selfish individuals. Even bacterial mats seem more aware of their community responsibilities than selfish capitalists. Looking at the heterogeneous colonies walking Wall Street, I can only assume that evolution produces a lot more cooperation than competition.
I look forward to more from researchers who are validating these hypotheses; and to the day when we have an evolutionary buzzword, to supplant “the selfish gene”, that speaks of cooperation, community and ecology.
Vancouver, Canada
