Good Enough

Good Enough
Author :
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Total Pages : 321
Release :
ISBN-13 : 9780674504622
ISBN-10 : 0674504623
Rating : 4/5 (23 Downloads)

Book Synopsis Good Enough by : Daniel S. Milo

Download or read book Good Enough written by Daniel S. Milo and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2019-06-18 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this spirited and irreverent critique of Darwin’s long hold over our imagination, a distinguished philosopher of science makes the case that, in culture as well as nature, not only the fittest survive: the world is full of the “good enough” that persist too. Why is the genome of a salamander forty times larger than that of a human? Why does the avocado tree produce a million flowers and only a hundred fruits? Why, in short, is there so much waste in nature? In this lively and wide-ranging meditation on the curious accidents and unexpected detours on the path of life, Daniel Milo argues that we ask these questions because we’ve embraced a faulty conception of how evolution—and human society—really works. Good Enough offers a vigorous critique of the quasi-monopoly that Darwin’s concept of natural selection has on our idea of the natural world. Darwinism excels in accounting for the evolution of traits, but it does not explain their excess in size and number. Many traits far exceed the optimal configuration to do the job, and yet the maintenance of this extra baggage does not prevent species from thriving for millions of years. Milo aims to give the messy side of nature its due—to stand up for the wasteful and inefficient organisms that nevertheless survive and multiply. But he does not stop at the border between evolutionary theory and its social consequences. He argues provocatively that the theory of evolution through natural selection has acquired the trappings of an ethical system. Optimization, competitiveness, and innovation have become the watchwords of Western societies, yet their role in human lives—as in the rest of nature—is dangerously overrated. Imperfection is not just good enough: it may at times be essential to survival.


Good Enough Related Books

Good Enough
Language: en
Pages: 321
Authors: Daniel S. Milo
Categories: Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2019-06-18 - Publisher: Harvard University Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In this spirited and irreverent critique of Darwin’s long hold over our imagination, a distinguished philosopher of science makes the case that, in culture as
Good Enough Is Good Enough
Language: en
Pages: 160
Authors: Colleen Duggan
Categories: Religion
Type: BOOK - Published: 2018-04-13 - Publisher: Ave Maria Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The truth about parenting is that you don't have to get everything right and your family doesn't need to be perfect. Colleen Duggan learned those lessons throug
Never Good Enough
Language: en
Pages: 292
Authors: Monica Ramirez Basco
Categories: Psychology
Type: BOOK - Published: 2000-03-02 - Publisher: Simon and Schuster

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This practical guide to overcoming the dangers of being a perfectionist--from debilitating feelings of self-doubt to difficulties with other people--shows reade
When Perfect Isn't Good Enough
Language: en
Pages: 306
Authors: Martin M. Antony
Categories: Self-Help
Type: BOOK - Published: 2009-02-01 - Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

It's only natural to want to avoid making mistakes, but imperfection is a part of being human. And while perfectionists are often praised for their abilities, b
What to Do When Good Enough Isn't Good Enough
Language: en
Pages: 145
Authors: Thomas S. Greenspon
Categories: Juvenile Nonfiction
Type: BOOK - Published: 2007-03-15 - Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Perfectionism may seem like a worthy goal, but it’s actually a burden. When you believe you must be perfect, you live in constant fear of making mistakes. Mos