The Search That Built the World: Why Evolution is a Climber, Not a Wanderer

Introduction: The Misunderstood Algorithm Evolution is often mischaracterized as a purely "random" process. We invoke the metaphor of a blind watchmaker, fumbling with parts until a functional timepiece emerges. While the source of variation—genetic mutation—is indeed random, the process of natural selection is the furthest thing from it. It is a powerful, deterministic force of curation. To truly…