When I was growing up, my father’s spiritual teacher predicted that humans would evolve to the next level of consciousness within 20 years. “The transformation of the human species,” she called the much-anticipated event. This was in California, in the late 1970s and early 80s. The teacher was enthralling and charismatic, and for my part, I couldn’t wait to evolve.
The teacher was echoing a popular misreading of Darwinian evolution as progression toward a goal, as if all of Creation were on a path toward the summit of a mountain. While lesser species tire out and languish on benches near the parking lot, or distractedly wander off on dead-end side trails, the thinking goes, humans march doggedly on toward the summit of perfection.
It isn’t really like that. There aren’t any predefined levels to evolution, no graph of accomplishment, no summit of greatness. There is only our changing environment, and life that adapts. In fact, you might say that the most perfect species are those that haven’t changed much at all over many millions of years, like crocodiles and dragonflies, because they’ve hit on a body design that seems to do well no matter what.
But the thing that’s really weird about the spiritual teacher’s prediction is not so much the idea of evolution as progress — that pitfall is hard for a self-congratulatory species such as ourselves to escape — but the notion that a big leap in the evolutionary history of humankind is something to look forward to, a celebratory moment of initiation into a new and improved society — some kind of party.
The product of evolution, the glorious diversity of life, is wonderful to behold. But a moment in which a lot of evolution occurs is not a moment you really want to be around to witness.
Big leaps in evolution happen right after mass extinctions. The extra-terrestrial rock that crashed into the Yucatan Peninsula, wiping out the dinosaurs and a lot of other creatures, cleared the land of large predators and allowed mammals to diversify and prosper. Long before that, 500 million years ago, a massive extinction of unknown cause made way for the famously productive Cambrian period, when complex life apparently emerged.
In the cycle of destruction and rebirth that is evolution, the terrified survivors pick their way painfully through the carnage, probably wondering if survival was even worthwhile. What kind of disaster would precede the evolution of humans to our next incarnation?
Even small changes require a lot of death — death by starving or getting torn apart by predators — in order that certain individuals pass on their sharper teeth or more cautious disposition. If you’re one of the few who’ve survived an epidemic to contribute your genes to the evolution of the species, your family and friends have most likely perished.
And yet, rosy misconceptions about evolution abound. ‘Evolve’ has become one of those fashionable buzzwords, connoting advanced ability, increased stamina, high-mindedness, a universal outlook, a more refined palate. You might want to hone your fitness through exercise or meditation, but as far as evolving? My advice is to avoid it if you possibly can.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a really compelling read. It made rethink the whole notion of evolution.
What you say about catastrophes preceding evolutionary change makes me think about the direction people are taking the world. i wonder if we’re setting ourselves up for the next “big one.”
I love the last paragraph…makes me laugh because i think about those LA fitness types (they don’t seem so evolved).
I love this essay! I grew up with “evolution of consciousness” as a regular topic of conversation. In fact, it’s kind of a shorthand phrase among my siblings for my dad’s pot-induced ramblings which could go on for quite awhile and which often seemed to charm our friends, even as it embarrassed us. I feel a sort of fondness for that ’70s optimism, like I feel when I watch “Free to Be You and Me.” At the same time, I want to shake those people, and I really don’t want to listen to the “evolution of consciousness” rhapsody ever again!
On a different note, my grandparents believed that they/we were physically evolving. My grandmother cited the fact that she only had 2 wisdom teeth instead of 4 as evidence of her own role in evolution, and my grandfather thought that his thin hair made him less like an ape, and therefore more “evolved.” Funny people, my people.
i would email this musing to my father in his booklined heaven if i could–he was pretty sure that we were going to hell in a handbasket even though i insisted in the 70s that brown rice and righteous behavior would save us. it makes a lot more sense to see that evolution isnt a reward for being good, but more like a high powered vacuum cleaner turned on at surprising times. thanks for the jolt to the brain!
This was really interesting. I too liked the last paragraph – I would like to grow spiritually but evolve? I agree with you! Let me know when you post a new comment. Vickie
Wise observations. I have personally participated in evolution – I just don’t know the nature of my impact upon the phenomenon. Not having reproduced, I have pulled my genes out of the pool, depriving posterity of my vices and virtues, including, but not limited to whichever ones contributed to my staying single and childless into my late fifties. As a person with Attention Deficit Disorder, said to be genetic, I wonder if my genetic make-up would have been more viable in simpler times, a hundred years ago.
If so, that wouldn’t mean that those folks who are parents are, in essence, superior to me would it? I’m open to the idea of being inferior, but all we seem to have at this point is inferiority in the realm of reproduction. Which brings me to wonder with no sense of personal comparison, whether the genes of John Keats or Shakespeare were passed on.
As the essay implies, we may question whether the present times that may exterminate some genetic lines are better than previous times. Climate change and the continuation of man’s inhumanity to man (gender implication intended) put divine plans deep in doubt.
PS Full House by Stephen Jay Gould is in accord with your essay.
Yes indeed! exactly! very well said. My favorite subject is: were we “created” or have we “evolved”? Remembering the Theory of Optimism at the beginning of the last century (which was the mantra in the 70′s & 80′s you mention), we have fabulously devolved, don’t you think? As a Christian I believe we were created (in God’s image) but that too has been, I’m learning, grossly misunderstood. But that’s another story. I’m sending you a image of a painting I did years ago via your email address that could illustrate your message pretty well, I think. Meanwhile the material world has it’s time limit, and this is what “evolution” focuses on. The material part of our world. It doesn’t include the spiritual aspect of our beings at all, and that’s why the argument is moot. My latest wonderment as I was sweating to death last week was, “Do apes sweat?” Look it up. They don’t!! Therefore it’s impossible that we descended from them. “But”, an interesting article surmises, “dolphins do perspire, therefore both apes and humans must have descended from dolphins somehow.” LOL. What next?
I loved your post — and your exquisite writing!
Please keep them coming.
What a special talent you have to be able to explain evolution in a clear, entertaining and pithy style. I look forward to reading more.
Kathy Weiss
I loved this piece. It makes more sense to see ‘evolution’ this way – as a “cycle of destruction and rebirth.” It aligns with the cyclical nature (cycling-revolving-revolution) of so many other things of our universe: inhalation/exhalation, night/day, expansion/contraction, ebb tide/high tide.
PS: Your writing is lovely and thoughtful!
I plead guilty. I am one those people who has over-used the word “evolve” in the wrong context. Your post got me to thinking and I came back to read it again. It’s very easy, if you’re not careful, to incorporate media buzz words into your personal lexicon, without considering the word’s deeper meaning. Your thoughtful take on the subjects of “word usage” and “evolution” has stayed with me. Yes, you are absolutely right. I wouldn’t want to be around to witness the loss of a tail or sprouting of a third eye — not to mention the death and destruction it would have taken to get to that point. Love your great writing and sly humor, as always!
Life is learning. Bring on the evolution. I always hope that aliens will abduct me.
So well written–and so thoughtful. Sounds like you’ve evolved some and without much catastrophe I hope! Maybe its evidence of growth which may not be the same as evolving to the next level. But, still in the same direction.