Science Musings Discussion
It would be misguided to believe that human intelligence has evolved to the point where our intellectual abilities enable a comprehensive understanding of the cosmos. In fact, we should probably consider ourselves fortunate that the evolutionary process that gave us brains to cope with our terrestrial environment has, as a side effect, enabled us to ponder deep metaphysical questions. But certainly, the universe has secrets beyond human comprehension, and to believe otherwise is hubris.
Fred, how do you know that?
Ok, I can't, of course, be certain in my knowledge that man is incapable of fully understanding the cosmos, but I will try to suggest why my intuition tells me this is so. I think you will agree that evolution has equipped different animals with different levels of intelligence. A fruit fly has sufficient intelligence to find food and a mate. Humans have been more generously endowed. Evolution has given us a capacity for abstract thought, and we have developed sciences that have extended the scope of our knowledge beyond the level needed for basic survival. However, evolution is conservative. Every adaptation that persists in the gene pool confers some advantage for survival on earth. The human brain is a machine designed to enable successful life on the surface of this planent. Although our intelligence is prodigious, it is earthbound. Don't get me wrong -- I think science is the best thing we have going for us, and I don't find the need to posit "spiritual" entities in this kind of discussion. I simply believe that our homo sapiens brain combined with our five senses is unlikely to have evolved to be a powerful enough machine to model the cosmos.
The way I see it, humanity's curiosity does have an evolutionary advantage. The only way we can insure the long-term survival of our species is to leave Earth.
Abstract thought and a desire to understand the cosmos are absolute requisites towards this goal.
Fish evolved feet to get out of the ocean. Apes are evolving brains to get off this planet.
Tom, maybe we are still evolving in some sense, although perhaps not in a strict Darwinian sense. If you believe visionaries like Ray Kurzweil (http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0598.html?
m=1), what we are doing is creating machine intelligence that will soon surpass human intelligence, and he does mean soon, like 2030. At that point, the machines get to do all the philosophizing. Do you think they'll tell us what they discover?
I have difficulty believing Kurzweil's projections. Perhaps some day machines will be developed that can ponder metaphysical questions (and, of course, pass the Turing Test). But even if we allow that machine intelligence may eventually surpass human intelligence (and the criterion for that must depend on the definition of intelligence, which is bound to be controversial) -- even so, it seems likely that the ultimate secrets of the universe will continue to elude machine knowledge, just as they have so far eluded human knowledge.
I would have thought the suggestion that we're not evolving "in a strict Darwinian sense" is the real hubris. Why should we be exempt from a process we accept applies to all other living creatures? Surely it is our evolution (for better or worse) which will determine our future - or lack of it. Which, far from detracting from my sense of wonder, to my way of thinking only adds to it.
And might it not be interesting to think about just how our evolution might happen, or be happening?
I agree. I've often wondered about this. At least for the general reader, there doesn't seem to be much on this subject, at least that I've been able to find. Perhaps biologists share Darwin's own reluctance to publicly speculate on human evolution?
Seems to me that since biological evolution happens at a slow pace, with various punctuated equilibriums, cultural evolution is where its at for we Homo sapiens. Human social evolution is rocketing ahead in some places and more stable in others, according to complex causes and conditions. What is wonderful about this is that while many people/populations are on one track others, not necessarily sharing the same the physical area (as in biological evolution) but instead connected through various media and other cultural forms, are diverging in all sorts of interesting directions. Social evolution is becoming astoundingly complex. Social life is an emergent property of human biology, and as extended phenotypes of biological organisms, social life is part of evolution on planet Earth. And every last one of us is a participant in this process, one way or another. Whew!
Given Kurzweil's & Chaisson's fascinating perspective referred to in Chet's blog of July 13, machines as aspects of humanity's extended phenotype are players in the chain of evolutionary emergence.
Cosmology -> geology -> biology -> human culture -> computers + ??...
All one interconnected process evolving new forms far too complex for any simple hierarchical ranking. Pentium chips are amazing, as are Limulus polyphemus...
http://www.horseshoecrab.org/
Yes - the broader picture of evolution is profoundly important and engaging. And as Chet's Tiger Tiger musing (http://www.sciencemusings.com/2005/07/tiger-
tiger-burning-bright.html ) points out, helping people to appreciate and leverage this sort of learning, as contrasted with dogmatic religion, can transform whole countries in wonderful ways.
I think it's important to talk about evolution and our origins in evocative ways that connect with people with traditional religious and spiritual backgrounds.
Check out the work of Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow at http://TheGreatStory.org, and a service I helped put together on "A Story of Cosmic Evolution" at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/~neal/
u...utionstory.html
which follows the "Evolution of elements, of galaxies, of stars, of planets, of life and of culture".
Beautiful, Neal. What a refreshing form of religious worship/celebration/communion. I'm imagining the story of evolution evolving in many forms and contexts, and I feel hopeful.
We don't have to invent a computer to philosophise.. The universe is already a very complex computer, and we are a very small part of it. Every time we try to understand more, it is basically universe trying to understand itself. If we evolve at all, I strongly suspect it is because the complexity of the universe allows itself to self upgrade its diagnostic programs to meet its goals. The technology we create tends to evolve too to fit our sensibilities. As our perceptions and abilities grow, we develop technology to meet our requirements. When technology starts to outpace us, we push ourselves to catch up to the technology. This has become mans closest self created attempt to evolve beyond himself. One day cybernetics will be a necessity to those who really need to push their limits.. Eventually, we'll be enhanced by nanites. And then we'll create computers that are more conceptual/virtual than real. People 200 years from now might seem like mages to someone of today.. Especially if they ever figure out how to perceive and move around in higher dimensions..
Commenting by HaloScan
