Evolution : the problem solving strategy as the basic unit of adaptation ?

The theory of evolution would gain in acceptance if it were better able to banish the tautologies that continue to dominate some of its formulations. The principles of communication/problem solving might be helpful in this respect. For example, adaptation as ``the evolutionary process by which an organism becomes fitted to its environment'' could be replaced by : ``adaptation concerns the solving of a particular (set of) problem(s) in a given environment/context, making use of preexisting problem solving strategies''. `Survival of the fittest' says nothing more than that the survivors survive. An alternative could be : ``If they are not prematurely eliminated by accidental death, the best problem solvers have better chances for being rewarded with a higher level of contentment, and by faster growth and reproductive advantages''. Problem solving requires adequate hardware, software, energy as well as the proper motivation.