1. A method for optimization, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an initial population or a data set with a plurality of members respectively represented by parameter sets; (b) applying one or a plurality of fitness functions to evaluate the quality of the members of the population; (c) generating offspring of the population by means of a stochastic model using information from all members of the population; (d) applying one or a plurality of fitness functions to evaluate the quality of the offspring with respect to the underlying problem of the optimization; (e) selecting offspring, and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the quality reaches a threshold value.