Good enough : the tolerance for mediocrity in nature and society
(Book)
Author
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2019.
Status
Central - Adult Nonfiction
576.8 MILO
1 available
576.8 MILO
1 available
Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Central - Adult Nonfiction | 576.8 MILO | Available |
Description
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More Details
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2019.
Format
Book
Physical Desc
310 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), map ; 22 cm
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description
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.--,Provided by publisher.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Milo, D. S. (2019). Good enough: the tolerance for mediocrity in nature and society . Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Milo, Daniel S. 2019. Good Enough: The Tolerance for Mediocrity in Nature and Society. Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Milo, Daniel S. Good Enough: The Tolerance for Mediocrity in Nature and Society Harvard University Press, 2019.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Milo, Daniel S. Good Enough: The Tolerance for Mediocrity in Nature and Society Harvard University Press, 2019.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
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