Evolutionary Oblivion

In our arrogance, man has designated himself to at top of the food chain, claiming the pinochocle of evolutionary processes. In common evolutionary paradigm, man is the final result of single-celled organisms evolving slowly but surely into creatures with central nervous systems and intelligent thought. The linear narrative of evolution has focused on the past, analyzing creatures that preceded human beings. By fallaciously delegating ourselves as the conclusion of this long and intricate process, "we live in oblivion of our metamorpheses" (Paul Eluard, Life Extreme).

As part of our desire to express their alterity from other species, humans often claim that the ability to conceptualize and synthesize abstract ideas sets humans apart from animals. Within this world view, we conceptualize that humans can achieve higher levels of fulfillment, catharsis, and happiness than other creatures. But without an objective perspective, this view cannot be evaluated fairly and seems to collapse on itself. Although our mental processes and emotions are unique, every species possesses physical and metaphysical characteristics that set it apart from other species. Accurately described by Friedrich Nietzsche,

"it is not true that the unconscious goal in the evolution of every conscious being (animal, man, mankind, etc) is its "highest happiness"; the case, on the contrary is that every stage of evolution posesses a special and incomparable happiness neither higher or lower but simply its own. Evolution does not have happiness in view, but evolution and nothing else" (Nietzsche, Life Extreme).

Since each species has different capacities, instincts, and desires, the concept of achieving happiness will always mean something different. Just as one should not say that a cheetah is more athletic than a man because he or she can run faster, one should not claim that humans are more intelligent, fulfilled, or content than another species because we think in a unique way. With different bioligical instincts, each species seeks and demonstrates satisfaction in drastically different ways, which cannot be objectively rated as higher or lower from one another.

Another common distinction people use to seperate humans from animals is the idea that animals adapt to their environment while humans alter their environment to fit their needs. But like humans, other species manipulate material in their environment to serve their biological purposes. For example, birds create nests to form safe havens to care for their young. Likewise, even with their most sophisticated technologies, humans adapt to their environments just like animals. As indicated in Life Extreme,

"nature evolves ingenious forms, often technologically useful. Every bush, every tree, can instruct us in and reveal new uses, potential apparatus, and technological inventions without number" (Moholy Nagy, Life Extreme).

By learning from animals, plants, and other environmental cues to create ideas for inventions and improve technology, humans are adapting to their environment just like any other animal.

Admittedly, it is difficult to see and understand the evolutionary processes which are currently happening. With short life spans and a limited perspective in space in the grand scheme of the universe, humans can merely catch a glimpse of the drastic changes that happen on a large enough scale. Perhaps the synthesis of neurology, bio-technology, computer technology and other fields implicated in post-human possibilities will make discoveries that exponentially spur the punctuations of evolution and make the processes more immediately evident. Perhaps with this accelaration in the rate of subtle manifestations, people will be able to better understand that "nothing is stable. In the whole universe, everything passes; all the forms are made only to come and go" (Ovide, Life Extreme).