Perfection is the enemy of evolution

The universal phenomenon of evolution consists of change after change in flow configuration in a time direction that is perceptible to the observer. This reality clashes with the doctrine of precise optima, minima, and maxima, now rigidly in place because of calculus and computational simulations of all kinds of flowing and changing configurations. With two dissimilar examples, access on an area (a human settlement) and along a line (animal locomotion), it is shown that even a 1-percent imperfection in performance is accompanied by a sizable band-width of freedom to hit the 'target', that is, an easily accessible design with close to perfect performance. The evolutionary designs reveal the physics behind the phenomenon of diminishing returns in the vicinity of the mathematical optimum. In evolution what works is kept.

Automated summary

The phenomenon of evolution involves perceptible changes in flow configuration over time. This clashes with the rigid doctrine of precise optima, minima, and maxima derived from calculus and computational simulations. By examining human settlements and animal locomotion, it is evident that even a small imperfection in performance allows for a wide range of design choices that achieve near perfect performance. Evolutionary designs shed light on the diminishing returns near the mathematical optimum. What works is preserved in the process of evolution.