Animal Algorithms: Evolution and the Mysterious Origin of Ingenious Instincts

by Eric Cassell

How do some birds, turtles, and insects possess navigational abilities that rival the best manmade navigational technologies? Who or what taught the honey bee its dance, or its hive mates how to read the complex message of the dance? How do blind mound-building termites master passive heating and cooling strategies that dazzle skilled human architects? In The Origin of Species Charles Darwin conceded that such instincts are “so wonderful” that the mystery of their origin would strike many “as a difficulty sufficient to overthrow my whole theory.” In Animal Algorithms, Eric Cassell surveys recent evidence and concludes that the difficulty remains, and indeed, is a far more potent challenge to evolutionary theory than Darwin imagined.

Genres: Science, Evolution

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, cogently argued look at some aspects of animal behavior that appear to support the hypothesis of intelligent design rather than the standard theory of Darwinian evolution. With dispassionate analysis the author, an engineer specializing in flight-navigation systems, shows how the phenomena of animal architecture and, above all, migration, cannot be accounted for on the basis of random incremental changes of individual genes and natural selection. He counters the accusation that intelligent design is "unscientific" by showing that its claims are at least as scientific as those of evolutionary theory, and that the dispute here is really a philosophical and not a scientific one.

Much of the book is taken up describing the details of certain animal behaviors, which indeed are pretty astonishing. I knew that monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico, but I didn't know that it takes them 3 generations to make a one-way trip!

[Ray Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for everyone interested in science. An important concept in the book is "complex programmed behavior" shortened to CPB in the book. The definition given to CPB is "to describe behaviors that meet the following five criteria: 1. Complex 2. Purposeful 3. Programmed 4. Contingent 5. Heritable". The detailed examples given and explained include various kinds of birds and insects. Did CPB arise by means of evolution or intelligent design? The book thoroughly explores this question. I highly recommend it to everyone who loves to read accessible scientific details.

[Tandava Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of interesting stuff here, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Not a lot of detail on the actual algorithms, and most of the flowcharts were simplistic and didn’t add much of anything. Then a large latter portion of the book was devoted, not to animal algorithms, but to arguing for intelligent design as a better theory than evolutionism. That’s fine with me, of course, but not really what I was looking for. Also, while the material was generally pretty interesting, the writing itself seemed to consistently put me to sleep.

[Kristal Stidham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the science of insect behaviors, but the author's arguments for intelligent design seemed like a real stretch and were not convincing. It did make for interesting conversations between me and my strict creationist, bible literalist husband.