Science

TomVilmer

(1,832 posts)

6. I love the idea of trees cooperating, but...

Mon Mar 19, 2018, 06:32 PM

Mar 2018

... ecologist Suzanne Simard should not misquote like "Darwin thought they were individuals competing for survival of the fittest". That IS the very popular interpretation of Darwin's work, but he actually would have agreed with Simard that "In fact they are interacting with each other, trying to help each other survive".

"Those communities which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members would flourish best and rear the greatest number of offspring", said Darwin. He also noted that cooperation is far more important than competition in the working of natural systems. For more about this, read the great Russian anarchist Pjotr Kropotkin's book: "Mutual Aid".

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Highlight:

Surreal Photos of India's Living Root Bridges [View all] Judi Lynn Mar 2018 OP

Nature is so ahead of mankind angstlessk Mar 2018 #1

Angst, I would look at it quite differently. Man and nature living in harmony. Nitram Mar 2018 #11

Thanks for sharing this RainCaster Mar 2018 #2

Was It A Group DEcision? Me. Mar 2018 #3

I love the idea of trees cooperating, but... TomVilmer Mar 2018 #6

Thanks for reminding us of that, Tom. Nitram Mar 2018 #12

Nice 2left4u Mar 2018 #7

It Thrills Me To Know This Me. Mar 2018 #8

When you think you have seen it all..........there is much more. Stuart G Mar 2018 #4

In pre-colonial and colonial times, the Leni-Lenape living along the Delaware River made tool 3Hotdogs Mar 2018 #5

So unexpected. The person who thought that one up must have been so pleased when it worked! Judi Lynn Mar 2018 #9

When I was teaching in New Providence, N.J., we took the kids on field trips to the Delaware River. 3Hotdogs Mar 2018 #10

Judi, I doubt it was one person who thought it up. Nitram Mar 2018 #13