ABSTRACT
In this chapter we consider some of the assumptions that we make in the book, and discuss the underlying rationale for considering the evolution of biological populations in the way that we do. The foundations of the study of evolution involve a vast amount of empirical observation, and it is possible to understand much of how evolution works without considering any mathematics at all. Similarly the level of complexity of observations about the world's natural history means that there is much that is beyond mathematical explanation, and circumstances where game-theoretical analysis is not appropriate. Nevertheless, game theory has a very important role to play. We shall consider the meaning of the types of games that we discuss in the context of evolution, discuss limitations of the models, especially in relation to genetics, and finally briefly discuss the merits of simple mathematical models in general.
