Philosophy of Evolution.
So today, in school no less, a normal day of lazy A.P. Biology was progressing as fit the norm. However, on the subject of evolution (though this has been debated previously in the year), I posed a query on the subject about which we were talking. The point had been made that humans, as they live today, are not evolving as they once had. Natural selection no longer is required. We exhibit compassion and look for cures to diseases. In the heart of nature, these deformities and detriments would result in the non-survival of the individual. However, now that we have the ability, we can halt natural selection, technically speaking. Yet, this notion brought to my attention one opposing viewpoint. Though we may not be advancing physically, are we in fact evolving mentally speaking? Could such a statement be true? The answer lies solely in interpretation, thus giving no answer at all.
First, the opposing viewpoint. To say that the mind is "evolving" is a paradox within itself. The mind is not, for the most part, considered to be "evolutionary." Evolution specifically, and I mean specifically, refers to the origin of species by means of natural selection, as all Darwinian scholars know. Therefore, considering many people who have disabilities still live, evolution is not occurring. For example, many diabetes patients have new and advanced treatments that allow their lives to prolong to almost that of a "normal" human. If evolution was truly the sole factor by which life persisted, then these subjects would be terminated. So, from a physical and most literal standpoint, evolution has completely and utterly stopped.
However, and there is always a however, this is a very primitive and almost pedestrian view of all that evolution encompasses. In Darwin's day, his ideas were considered years ahead of any wisdom then. And, for the most part, well almost all the part, his ideas remain the standard by which we study the evolution of all organisms. Still, in the present, evolution has taken on a new meaning, one of advancement and progression. Thus, it would be safe to say that the human mind is constantly evolving. The knowledge that is present one year is furthered the next. We learn and experience new ideas and technologies each and every day. And people are finding the cures and the methods to treat horrible and debilitating diseases. We learn more about the world around us and outside of us each and every second. A genius does not sit, satisfied with the fact that he is the smartest person in the world. Rather, he thirsts for new knowledge, to advance his mind. He evolves. Moreover, there exists more and more questioning (for better or for worse) in the world today. Instead of people accepting absolutely everything they hear, they ask "Why?" and "How?" There are not many assenting nods nowadays. Rather, there are questions pondered and theories challenged. Is this not the advancement of our race? Is it truly safe to say that the human race is at its peak? Is this the best we have?
I do not answer my propositions. I simply ask them because even I am not convinced that we are evolving (fully, at least). Is evolution actually the literal, two-sided venture we have believed for so long? Or is it something more? Is evolution itself evolving? I do not know, and I do not think I wish to know. There is only one certainty; a truth I have believed since I can remember. And if this is not true, then so be it. I have been wrong.
Everything has happened as it has supposed to happen. I know this because I am still here.
posted by Mike White @ 4:52 PM
4 Comments:
Your point is interesting, but as for you comments as to how nowadays we have learned to question everything, is that really true in ever culture on earth? yes, questioning and independance is preached upon in advanced and educated countries, but the majority of the earth still recieves no formal education or teachings like this. So couldn't you almost say that whatever sort of "mental evolution" is taking place, it could be slightly unbalanced? As well for the physical, as the majority of humans don't have access to drugs that world leading countries have. It almost seems that the process of evolution is now something that is unequal. As you have said, perhaps the evolution process has "stopped" in a sense, but if that is so, I would say it is true for only a small percentage of the world. Like some of the world has stalled the natural process of evolution.
if you really think about it, more intelligent people usually end up with safer jobs and safer lifestyles which thus enable them to live longer and produce more offspring. while challenged individuals have a gerater risk of drug dependence and crime involvement which obviously decreases life spans. i have thought this through before, and i am convinced that the capacity of the human mind is gradually increasing. clouded by recognizing that we are intelligent enough to choose the number of children or offspring we produce, meaning that slight differences in life spans between individuals are insignificant (e.g. my parents still have 3 kids whether they die tomorrow or 100 years from now). consequently, evolution is occurring nonetheless but at a severely hampered pace; as living longer inevitably entails a greater chance of more offspring, by concept. although we can suppress evolution, we can not and will not ever stop it. to prove this i present the case of the gay people in europe who are resistant to HIV. lets say HIV was much more widespread than it already is today and that 50% of people in every country contracted it. while the infected people slowly died off, the resistant people would thrive and reproduce offspring with the resistance genes. evolution is cesium: an unstoppable force in which even you, mike white, can not move.
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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This site is one of the best I have ever seen, wish I had one like this.
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