Evolution and Transitions in Complexity

1. General Introduction
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

Part I. The Operator Theory and Its Applications

2. Introducing the Operator Theory
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis, Hendrik Pieter Spijkerboer, Hans-Peter Koelewijn

3. Reflections on the Operator Theory
Henk Barendregt

4. Darwinian Evolution: Process or Pattern?
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis, Hendrik Pieter Spijkerboer, Hans-Peter Koelewijn

5. Reflections on the Graph Representation of Darwinian Evolution
N. M. (Nico) van Straalen, H. G. J. (Bart) Gremmen

6. Generalising Darwinian Evolution by Using Its Smallest-Scale Representation as a Foundation
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis, Hendrik Pieter Spijkerboer, Hans-Peter Koelewijn

7. A Critical Assessment of Graph-Based Generalized Darwinism
Thomas A. C. Reydon

8. The Role of Structural Criteria in Transitions Theory: A Focus on Organisms
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

9. In Defense of Gradualism
Jack Vromen

10. The Role or Structural Criteria in Transition Theory: A Focus on Systems of Interacting Organisms
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

11. Major Transitions, Operator Theory, and Human Organization
Jan-Willem Stoelhorst

12. Learning from Water: Two Complementary Definitions of the Concept of Life
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

13. Adding (Thermo)dynamic Aspects to Definitions of Life
Michael Russell

14. A Thermodynamic Account of the Emergence of Organised Matter
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

15. The Road to a Measurable Quantitative Understanding of Self-Organization and Evolution
Georgi Yordanov Georgiev, Atanu Chatterjee

Part II. Discussion, Reflections, and Conclusions

16. General Discussion
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

17. What Comes Next? The Operator Theory as an Operationalisation of the Teilhardian View on Cosmogenesis
Hub Zwart

18. In Response to the Reflections of the Reviewers
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

19. Contributions to Open Challenges in Systems Theory and the Life Sciences
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis

20. Erratum to: Introducing the Operator Theory
Gerard A. J. M. Jagers op Akkerhuis, Hendrik Pieter Spijkerboer, Hans-Peter Koelewijn

Keywords: Life Sciences, Evolutionary Biology, Systems Biology, Biodiversity, Philosophy of Science