The concept of survival of the fittest is often linked to Darwinism, yet this association stems more from later interpretations than from Darwin’s own writings. A shift toward viewing nature through cooperative ecological lenses may offer fresh insights.
The term was introduced by Herbert Spencer rather than Charles Darwin. In his work On the Origin of Species, Darwin highlighted competition, reflecting the industrial and imperial era’s emphasis on rivalry, influenced by thinkers like Malthus and Hobbes. This framing later served to rationalize harsh social practices.
Darwin also considered ecological connections before the term ecology existed. Such communal approaches could help address major scientific questions, including how life began.
Research inspired by microbiologist Carl Woese proposes that early life developed in a shared molecular environment. Recent studies indicate that essential life processes, such as metabolism and protein coding, can emerge naturally from chemical reactions. This suggests life may have started through collective interactions rather than isolated competitive success in a single setting.
