John Maynard Smith

John Maynard Smith was a British biologist known for applying game theory to evolutionary biology. He introduced the concept of the "evolutionarily stable strategy" (ESS), which describes a strategy that, if adopted by a population, cannot be invaded by any alternative strategy. This framework helps explain behaviors in nature, such as cooperation and competition among species. By combining ideas from biology and mathematics, Maynard Smith provided insights into how evolutionary pressures shape animal behavior and social structures, fundamentally influencing our understanding of natural selection and the strategies organisms use to survive and reproduce.