evolutionary theory

noun — 2 senses

evolutionary theory

noun
1

Biology, Natural sciences A theory of evolution, especially the scientific theory of evolution through natural selection.

2

Broadly Any model of disequilibrium or accumulating change.

  • Opposed to the evolutionary theory of the universe is the theory of the steady state universe.1962, Clifford D. Simak, The Solar System: Our New Front Yard, page 70:
  • A more refined version is the concept of restless capitalism developed by Metcalfe, working on the evolutionary theory of economic change by Nelson and Winter. In both cases, the economy is in a state of disequilibrium all of the time.2015, Jorge Turmo Arnal, Financial Crisis and the Failure of Economic Theory, page 155:
Related terms
evolutionary biology
Hyponyms
natural selection, transmutationism, saltationism, transformationism, transformism, orthogenesis, Lamarckism, adaptationism

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.