In this paper we first shortly review the current view of
the evolution of complexity and novelty in biotic evo-
lution. Next we show that the basic processes thereof
do happen automatically and are generic properties of
systems including the basic mechanisms of Darwini-
an evolution plus local as opposed to global interac-
tions. Thus we show that the so generated multilevel
evolution can be studied within the paradigm 'simple
rules lead to complex phenomena'. We derive some re-
sults demonstrating the power of such multilevel evolu-
tionary processes to integrate information at multiple
space and time scales.
Nevertheless we also point out shortcomings of such
an approach which necessarily uses a priori chosen and
preferentially relatively simple interaction schemes.
However, straightforward extensions towards more
complex interaction schemes generally leads to ad hoc-
ness and over-determinedness, rather than fundamen-
tally new behavior of the system, and often to less
understanding of that behavior. Nevertheless biologi-
cal theory formation needs a method to go beyond the
generic behavior of simple interaction schemes.
We propose to use evolutionary optimization of very
trivial fitness functions which are obtainable in many
different ways to push back the necessary a priori choic-
es and to zoom in to interesting non generic phenom-
ena and their general properties. . We thus derive
insights in relationships between sets of derived prop-
erties at several scales. We discuss how this approach
can be used in biological theory formation, focusing on
information accumulation and utilization in replicator
systems and immune systems