The Next Step of Evolutionary Theory

Evolution is known by some common definitions:

Organisms which survive and live, go on to reproduce and thrive. Thus only ‘successful’ genes are passed from generation to generation. The genes and individual organisms which fail, are not passed. Thus the ongoing reproduction of life represents Evolution by which a minority of genes remain preserved, and the majority die-off. In simpler terms, this can be called “The Survival of the Fittest”. But that description is 20th Century, and unfit for present day. The more accurate description refers to the methods and strategies of reproduction of any given specie. Thus some patterns of sexual reproduction are stable (Fitness), and other patterns/strategies are not. In other words, some reproductive strategies are ‘safer’ and more probable than others. In humanity this plays out through sexual competition, and the acts of seduction, mating rituals, used to attract and keep a mate until successful copulation. For example, some professions, hobbies, and lifestyles are riskier than others, and so will attract different types of men and women, different types of mates.

The next step of Evolutionary Theory is to apply Specialization to the premise.

Evolution is merely an advancing process of Specialization. A core unit of any species remains relatively the same, over long periods of time. They do not change much, despite the advancement in science to hypothesize about “Mutations”. The rule of Evolution proves this false. Crocodiles and Alligators do not mutate. They stay the same, over millenniums and millions of years. They do not change, over time. This lack of change represents Stability, Consistency, and Equilibrium. An organism that has “successfully” adapted to an environment, will remain within that environment, unless a severe change causes the ecosystem irreparable damage. Thus “Evolution” does not apply to the organism that “have already evolved”, to their Stasis-Point. What I mean by “Stasis-Point”, is the point in time by which any organism and specie achieves Equilibrium, and thus, “does not need to change anymore”. It does not need to adapt anymore.

Because it’s continued survival, over thousands or millions of years, is relatively secure.

For example, can you think of any occurrence, natural or manmade, that could eliminate all insect life on earth? All ants, mosquitos, flies, extinct? How about bacteria? Can you think of some phenomenon, at all, that could wipe out all algae from the ocean? As in, 0% remaining?

You cannot think of such circumstances, because short of earth itself blowing up, or being swallowed by the sun, they could not happen. They have not happened, in history. And so, there is no extinction process for generalized-species. While certain strains and unique varieties of species, may go extinct, their broader category, and genetic-basis, does not go extinct. Mayhaps, they cannot go extinct. They are, for all intents and purposes, relatively immortal.

In this way, there are core groups or individuals in any specie, which are most-protected, most-secure, and therefore, most-adapted (Highest Fitness) to particular environments.

These theses are the next step of evolutionary theory, because Specialization explains the means by which any specie or organism further “Advances” or “Progresses” beyond the Stasis-Point of any specie. In other words, very specific conditions are required to push a group of organisms “forward” beyond their equilibrium. For example, once a group of organism is 99.9% safe from mortality, then what will they do next? Why would they change or “mutate”, when there is no need for them to do so? And if groups of species or organisms do mutate at the equilibrium point, then what does it look like?

But we already see these answers in humanity. Once humanity has reached Equilibrium, safety from mortality is not enough. Humanity has felt compelled to take further “unnecessary” risks. Developing vehicles, automobiles, new forms of transportation. New forms of warfare. Space flight and rocketry. Therefore, all these specializations represent the common means by which people think of “Evolution”. Humanity, or any other specie, continues to “Evolve” only by its further “progression” beyond equilibrium. Living a life of luxury, comfort, almost assured 100% safety, is not enough. Thus man long ago became an Artificer, “command of His own destiny”. A moral agent.

When there are no more challenges against you within an environment, then you must construct challenges yourself, Artificiality. All of these are manifest as post-modern specialization.

Humanity is increasingly breeding toward increased specializations as well. Sub-cultures are designed around the improvement of common tasks: sports, hunting, racing, warring, any activity that can be imagined, people are investing more time into them, even when they are mundane and seemingly useless from the larger picture. In these ways, evolution and specialization are conceptually equivalent. They’re the same.