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Towards a Comparison of Evolutionary Creativity in Biological and Cultural Evolution

Andre SkusaSkusa and Mark A. BedauBedau$^{\ast}$

Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.,Portland OR 97202
andre.skusa@reed.edu, mab@reed.edu

$^{\ast}$To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract:

Bedau and Packard have defined evolutionary activity statistics that illuminate the adaptive evolutionary creativity of biological evolution. The statistics enable us to visualize adaptive evolutionary dynamics and to measure the intensity and extent of adaptive evolution, and can be used to define qualitatively different kinds of evolving systems. Here we describe how to apply evolutionary activity statistics to systems undergoing cultural rather than biological evolution, and we report preliminary results of implementing this method in technological evolution as reflected in patent record data. Measuring evolutionary activity in patent records provides a clear picture of the major adaptive phenomena at work in the evolution of technology. It also enables the quantitative and empirical comparison of the adaptive evolutionary dynamics of biological and cultural evolution.