The pursuit of complexity

The Pursuit of ComplexityWhat use is biodiversity, and does it matter if species die out?These controversial questions arouse considerable debate.Most people believe they represent a moral dilemma, butThe Pursuit of Complexity shows that it is possible to explorethem in a scientific way.Author Gerard Jagers op Akkerhuis takes us back to the underlyingfundamental questions: What actually is usefulness, or utility?What is evolution? What is life? What is biodiversity? And howimportant are human beings in all this? According to him wehave to look at evolution in an entirely different way. If we dothat we see that it follows predictable patterns, and that it ispossible to anticipate the next stage in the evolutionary process.His surprising answers and provocative predictions keep thereader in suspense. He invites us to engage in a new type ofdiscussion, one that encompasses not only the scientific andphilosophical issues, but also their practical implications fornature conservation.The Pursuit of Complexity is written in clear terms for a broad audience,from biologists and nature conservationists, philosophers,futurists, researchers and students to politicians, policymakersand anyone with an interest in nature and curious about whatconstitutes life.