What is the Path Forward for Humanity?

Evolution is inevitable, and there are already signs of the next species

Dec 31, 2024

I have previously written about how language has given us a new way of looking at the world, but emotions are still needed and influential, and these two views are sometimes at odds.

This problem of different senses generating different information has arisen numerous times in evolution, and species have resolved this problem of merging disparate senses multiple times. I see humans as a transitional species that has not yet integrated how we think and feel about the world.

Evolution never stops, so a synthesis will come to pass, and it may happen sooner, rather than later; not every species lasts for millions of years like dinosaurs did. When the environment changes fast, genes change fast as well, and this is happening for humans due to the rapid changes in how we live. Human jaws1 changed significantly as a result of cooking and agriculture. In some regions, people have developed lactose tolerance2 as a result of keeping dairy animals. We can also alter our genes directly with a technique called CRISPR. It has the potential to treat inherited diseases like sickle cell anemia, and if changes were made to a sperm or ovum, the genetic changes would become a permanent inheritance.

Culture is a large part of evolution

In all species, behavior is passed down between generations via DNA, but social learning3 adds to what is passed on. Humans have increased this contribution enormously by developing language and writing.

The amount of information contained in genes is now dwarfed by the accumulated knowledge held in libraries. The human genome is 6.4 billion base pairs (6 × 10⁹) and the world’s knowledge is around 300 exabytes (3 × 10²⁰) and growing. This suggests that human evolution is now carried much more by culture than DNA, so our evolutionary successor will be characterized by cultural changes more than DNA changes.

Integration of thinking and feeling

Just as integration of the senses has taken place in the past, a future species will blend thinking and feeling into a joint understanding. Let us call the future species Humans Mark 2, or H2 for short. This can also stand for Head and Heart.

It is language and the ability for rational thought that is the most distinguishing feature of humans. It has led to scientific, industrial and social developments of immense benefit, so in the future, its use will increase and the influence of emotions will decrease. The head will be more able to step in when an emotional choice is not appropriate. This will happen by separating stimulus and response, so the emotions are mediated by conscious thought.

The amygdala is the emotional hub of the brain and rational thought is based in the prefrontal cortex. These two centers are connected, and generally, each one moderates the other, though extreme fear can inhibit thought processes and take over reactions completely. It is called an amygdala hijack.

Ultimately, H2 will remain conscious of both thoughts and feelings, either at the same time or by effortlessly switching focus. Head and heart will understand that each has a limited view that appears different, but is of the same reality. Both are on the same side, and each must take the other into account. We will be a whole person instead of having two warring voices in our heads.

Integration is happening through culture

Because culture is such a large component of human evolution and changes so much faster than DNA, evolution is largely cultural, and the changes are relatively rapid.

The internet is having a significant effect here. It is the fifth revolution in communications.

The first step was language, the ability to pass ideas directly from one person to another.
The second was writing, which collected together the ideas of many people.
The third was printing, which disseminated those ideas to a large number of people.
The fourth was electricity, which made communication instantaneous, though mainly one-way via radio and television.
The fifth was the internet, which made communication between all people possible.

The internet’s essential nature4 is in creating a global dialogue. It is the tool with which we can see that strangers are not so different from us, and we can expand the range of people with whom we identify to include everyone.

This direct communication is a counter to tribalism, the idea that you know and can trust the people near to you, but strangers, whose habits and language are different from yours, cannot be trusted and are your competitors.

This is a radical change in the nature of relationships between people. The knowledge that we are all connected, both digitally and through our humanity, is the emergence of H2.

A one world view

This creates a one-world view because the fear that causes tribalism is curtailed. Conflict is increasingly seen as a poor way to deal with differences.

Even though this change is largely social, there are also measurable physiological differences5 in the brain between different political views. The sizes of the right amygdala and anterior cingulate gyrus vary. While these differences may be due to the cultural environment, there are also studies (some with identical and fraternal twins6) suggesting that about half7 of political leanings are inherited.

Although we do not yet have that level of physiological integration, there is still much that can be done today to balance the two by using culture, which drives evolution along with DNA. This has been tackled differently by Eastern and Western cultures.

The Eastern approach examines the self more than the external world. Mindfulness practices help by pointing out that having emotions and acting on those emotions are two different things. With this awareness, you have the opportunity to act or not appropriately. Studies8 of experienced meditators show permanent changes in brain states.

The Western approach is through education. In its untrained state, our brain pays more attention to fast-acting emotions than slower-acting thoughts. This imbalance is lessened by strengthening and training the brain through critical thinking.

This merging of East and West is already starting to happen through the practice of mindfulness, a term that was barely in use9 before the 21st century.

A one world view sees similarities as well as differences. When you look for similarities, you see a single group, and when you look for differences, you see multiple groups. Understanding that other people can be both similar and different is key to the idea of one world.

The risk of collapse

A unified world may seem improbable in the face of Ukraine, Gaza, failures of democracy, climate change, and possible social collapse. To sustain rational thinking, we need a knowledge base, education, communication methods and material security. If any of these falter, the progress toward H2 could stall. A systemic collapse would leave the descendants with stories of hubris: an Eden that died, an Icarus tale, an Atlantis myth of ancestors with great powers.

Nevertheless, evolution will happen; it always does, and H2 seems an inevitable destination.

Take a side

Setting the risks aside, there is a change in the air. Many people believe that the present path is untenable, and we need everybody to get together and work on the problems of humanity. You might object that there are many people who are not prepared to cooperate, but you have to be open to working with them and searching for a solution. Try discussing what you have in common rather than what divides you.

Certainly there are people who hold on to their beliefs about how things should be and will not budge, so the world is divided into people who think that division is inevitable and those who think one world is possible.

There is a paradox10 here: you can’t claim to believe in one world, and at the same time, say there are fundamental differences between you and others. Instead, you have to look at what you have in common, and that is being human. You need to make space for everyone.

This is the attitude that a belief in one world needs. If this is you, welcome to one world. You are a person who knows how to look within and who understands that people are often moved by their emotions and hence are not fully rational. You know of a peaceful place within you, even if you can’t make it there all the time. And really, that’s all you need. You might think that empathy is also needed, but understanding what moves another person is empathy.

There are many people who think this way, and what is needed is for this idea to take shape, to be recognized, to have a name. Even if you think it’s an outrageous pipe dream, keep it where you’ll notice it. Imagine that it could happen. Speak to people about it. As this idea spreads across cultures via the internet, the one-world movement is beginning to find its identity. After a name comes a voice, and after a voice comes action.

Optimism is a political act. Those who benefit from the status quo are perfectly happy for us to think nothing is going to get any better. In fact, these days, cynicism is obedience. Alex Steffen, The Bright Green City

How to Make Sense of the World

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