Author: Josip Pajk (j.p.pajk@usa.net)
Date : Oct 26, 1997
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ANNOTATION: Only dynamic systems can evolve

When Darwin is speaking about evolution he is limiting his theory exclusively on "organisms". An organism, by definition, is a dynamic system. If you carefully look at the theoretical inner structure (model) of dynamic systems (who first defined this model?), you can see that it is composed of three different blocks: two (the input and output block) without memory, and one memory block which generates the inner states of the system.

Only systems with such a organisational structure can evolve because they are capable to change their inner states. Even more, dynamic systems are also self-organised because the inner loop between the memory block and the input (observer) block is active even if there are not "irritations" from the outside of the system. In other words, dynamic systems are capable of "fine-tuning" their organisation using the same set of input data.

This is true for all three types of structures real systems are build of: the material, energetic(al) and the informational structure. Dynamic systems are capable to change (build) and "memorise" their material structure, to exploit and keep reserves of various environmental energetic structures, and to model and memorise informational structures regarding the outer and inner processes relevant to the system.

The cloud and the crystalline structure used to explain the evolution of the Swenson’s "population of one" are unfortunately chosen. Structures are not evolving. They are completely dependant about the environment. Even an "empty" environment is an environment. In another environment, i.e. one with a strong electromagnetic field, the cloud would retain its structure while the crystalline structure might be disintegrated.

About selection: What is control, management, etc. if not selection. The difference between "artificial" and "natural" selection is only in the stability of the selection criteria, and in the time interval on disposal for making the selection. Nature is a "fair-player", its selection criteria are stable in time. So it would be a simple task to identify it. We call it "natural laws". In other dynamic systems there are other "laws" functioning as less stable selection criteria: moral, ethics, tradition and other "informational structures" which are acting like constraints to the "artificial" selection making.

This kind of selection is closely related to the state of the dynamic system observer (input block). For example, all the answers to my questions could be in front of me in a document written in the Chinese language, but I would not be able to extract any information from this material structure because I do not know the language. If I have the freedom to learn it, I will change my inner state and extract the needed information.

To conclude this boring debate, things are as simple as this: Only dynamic systems evolve. With their evolution the environment (could be interpreted as a dynamic system) also evolves. Dynamic systems have no other meanings for changing their environment besides the change (mutation) of their internal state. For example, a corporation has no other possibility to change its position on the market besides of making internal structural changes to produce an adequate output towards the environment.

Josip Pajk

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