Could Technology Spark Evolution?
After hours to the various BBC documentaries about the evolution of our planet and our species I wondered about this.
It has been assumed any further evolution in the human species is probably unlikely. Previous changes in our evolution (ie biological) might have been forced by drastic changes in enviroment. Our enviroment for dated civilizition has been stabble. Could this new world of Technology spark evolution? The changes that caused evolution before was changes in enviroment and the evolution took millions of years. All of our technology has been invented in the last 100 or so years. That to me seems like a very drastic change in a very short time.
Watch a 50-year old try to play with a gameboy,
and watch 7-year old master the computer.
This gap in comprehension is huge in only one generation.
There has been confusion about 'evolution', I am addressing the inherited characteristics that become more a articulated/dominate.
Could Technology Spark Evolution?
Yes. I have no doubt that technologies affect human evolution. But mainly in the following way..
Medicine technology has prolonged (and will continue to prolong) life expectancies by a lot; giving virtually everyone a chance to pass on their genes to the next generations even if their genes contain traits of congenital defects. Thus in the long run humans will face more varieties of congenital diseases/disorders/disabilities.
But then, most likely humans will solve those congenital problems using technologies. We develop cures/therapies faster than the speed of natural selection. Also, in small steps genetic engineering will improve humans by fixing bad genetic traits.
So, unless we manage to destroy humanity with it, technology will improve humans in our evolution. Longer lives. Better health. And, most likely, smarter, too. Not sure about wiser. But I hope so.
Could Technology Spark Evolution?
Evolution has to do with survival and procreation. It has nothing to do with leisure activities.
The things that will affect our evolution are: medical science, diet, environmental damage, etc...
You are hinting here at the notion of the transhuman or posthuman. Could there be a way in which technology enhances a person to such a degree that the person no longer is a person (e.g., as a cyborg)? The term cyborg itself is a portmanteau made from CYBernetic ORGanism.
The easiest way to answer your question is to refer you to an excellent book on the subject; you should check out Ray Kurzweil's %26quot;The Singularity is Near%26quot; which illuminates how evolution can be understood as the rate at which information can be transfered or exchanged technologically. If you are not much of a reader, simply look at the graphs (found in Ch2 and 3) of technological advancement as it mixes with biological shifts. It give you a good idea about what you are thinking about.
Life is the greatest technology know to mankind.
Ironiclly, most 'manmade' technology, as much as it give an advantage to humans who use it, technology works against the health %26amp; well being of 'life-forms' on the planet. As a species, we have grown %26amp; continue to become even more dependant apon our technology. Since when does increased dependancy=evolution?
