McShea,D.W. 1991. Complexity and evolution: What everybody knows.
Biology and Philosophy, 6, 303-324.
His original article questioning whether complexity actually
increases with evolution.
McShea, D.W. 1994. Mechanisms of large-scale evolutionary trends.
Evolution, 48, 1747-1763.
Distinguishes between passive evolutionary trends, and actively
driven trends with ways of testing which is which (and real
examples of both).
McShea, D.W. 1996. Metazoan Complexity and Evolution: Is there a trend?
Evolution, 50, 477-492.
Applies last paper to trends in complexity. Discusses
complexity with respect to the task, preferring a practical
(if rather weak) measure to an a priori one. Concludes with
"an emphatic agnosticism" because there is not definite evidence
either way. Ends on nice quote: "...the point here is not to
deny directionality exists. Something may be increasing. But
is it complexity?".
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Bruce Edmonds,
Centre for Policy Modelling,
Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun Bldg.,
Aytoun St., Manchester, M1 3GH. UK.
Tel: +44 161 247 6479 Fax: +44 161 247 6802
http://bruce.edmonds.name