Since Darwin, individuals and more recently genes, have been the focus of evolutionary thinking. The idea that selection operates on nonreproducing, higher-level systems including ecosystems or societies, has met with scepticism. But research emphasising that natural selection can be based solely on differential persistence invites reconsideration of their evolution. Self-perpetuating feedback cycles involving biotic as well as abiotic components are critical to determining persistence. Evolution of autocatalytic networks of molecules is well studied, but the principles hold for any ‘self-perpetuating’ system. Ecosystem examples include coral reefs, rainforests, and savannahs. Societal examples include agricultural systems, dominant belief systems, and economies. Persistence-based selection of feedbacks can help us understand how ecological and societal systems survive or fail in a changing world.

自达尔文以来，个人以及最近的基因一直是进化思想的焦点。选择在包括生态系统或社会在内的非复制，更高层次的系统上运行的想法引起了人们的怀疑。但是，强调自然选择可以仅基于差异持久性的研究要求重新考虑其演化。涉及生物和非生物成分的自我永续反馈周期对于确定持久性至关重要。分子的自催化网络的演化已得到很好的研究，但原理适用于任何“自我延续”的系统。生态系统的例子包括珊瑚礁，雨林和热带草原。社会方面的例子包括农业系统，主导信仰系统和经济。