Wondering about evolution
Participating in a general assembly, I could see the usual patterns appearing. Some people liked the suggested changes, others considered them and inquired, yet others didn’t really bother. Those who inquired using remarks considered as negative by others were immediately met with resistance. They tried to control by pushing back and displaying what they perceived as authority.
It’s a natural reaction to change.
However, one that doesn’t support change.
And one that doesn’t consider evolution.
In this context, I’ll consider evolution, the change that happens independently from our interference. It’s how the context we live in changes as a result of the sum of all the individual changes. We can only assess this dynamic retrospectively and never completely. It also explains how being subject to an evolving context changes humans.
Change, on the other hand, could be described as an event as well as an action. Whenever it is an action, it is preceded by a decision. Whenever it is an event, it is also an experience.
Humans often consider themselves to be at the top of the pyramid, as those who, through their influence, impact the context in which they live. The assumption is that this influence changes life for the better—maybe not for everyone, but in general.
However, in the past, these choices have been considered through a lens of technical evolution. It is giving priority to external influences and technology.
What seems to receive much less consideration is the space and time individuals need to take to enable their ability to integrate what evolution asks of them. Closely related to this is the question of the autonomy the individual wants to have. Many of the things we do and can do in life are the result of having technology at our disposal. It’s autonomy that depends on technology.
To me, the question becomes what skills humans need to remain the ones steering technological evolution. There is no doubt that everything that can be invented will be invented. There is no chance to stop the evolution of technology.
What can change, though, is how we relate to technology.
We can respect technology and be humble with respect to nature.
Or we can remain in awe of technology and the human mind developing it.
