In the light of evolution V: Cooperation and conflict

This paper serves as an introduction to the fifth in a series of Colloquia under the general title “In the Light of Evolution” (ILE; see Box 1). Papers from the first four colloquia in the “In the Light of Evolution” series, titled “Adaptation and Complex Design,” “Biodiversity and Extinction,” “Two Centuries of Darwin,” and “The Human Condition,” are refs. 1⇓⇓–4, respectively. The current volume explores recent developments in the study of cooperation and conflict, ranging from the level of the gene to societies and symbioses. Box 1. In the Light of Evolution In 1973, Dobzhansky (5) penned a short commentary titled “Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution.” Most scientists agree that evolution provides the unifying framework for interpreting biological phenomena that otherwise can often seem unrelated and perhaps unintelligible. Given the central position of evolutionary thought in biology, it is sadly ironic that evolutionary perspectives outside the sciences have often been neglected, misunderstood, or purposefully misrepresented. Biodiversity—the genetic variety of life—is an exuberant product of the evolutionary past, a vast human-supportive resource (aesthetic, intellectual, and material) of the present, and a rich legacy to cherish and preserve for the future. Two challenges (as well as opportunities) for 21st century science are to gain deeper insights into the evolutionary processes that foster biotic diversity and to translate that understanding into workable solutions for the regional and global crises that biodiversity currently faces. A grasp of evolutionary principles and processes is important in other societal arenas as well, such as education, medicine, sociology, and other applied fields including agriculture, pharmacology, and biotechnology. The ramifications of evolutionary thought extend into learned realms traditionally reserved for philosophy and religion. The central goal of the “In the Light of Evolution” series is to promote the … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fjayala{at}uci.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1