Main > The Round Table

The Evolution of Man through the Ages

(1/5) > >>

Ian:
Modern man seems to think that we as a species are quite evolved as compared to our renaissance, medieval, dark age, and ancient counterparts.  Do you think this is really so?  We seem to be plagued with the same problems mankind has dealt with since the dawn of our existence.  Hunger, disease and war still cover the globe. 

I would put forward that the only thing we've really done is advance our technology.  Sure, we have cheap food available to a relatively privileged sample of the world's population.  We have vaccines and the ability to fight disease through tremendous advancement in medical technology.  Virtually every 1st world country on the planet is currently involved in an armed conflict somewhere, and we kill each other with amazing precision and efficiency like never before.

The underlying human condition is virtually unaltered since man became civilized.  We have more unparalleled levels of convenience in our lives today that no ancient man could have ever dreamed of, but to say we've evolved is quite an arrogant conclusion based on the state of the world we live in.  I also don't understand the presumption that our ancestors were somehow not evolved.  Every major age of man from Greek Antiquity, Roman Republic/Empire, The Middle Ages etc had quite sophisticated and complex cultures that in no way are any less evolved than ours.  What do you think?  Are we more evolved today?  Are we better people?  I personally think we have way more in common with our ancestors than we do differences.

Sir James A:
I agree. I think the advancements in technology have actually made us less evolved in other ways. Some people can't remember basic things without a smart phone. "This is hot, that is sharp" is taught by pictures, and some people lack very basic common sense, perhaps due in part to lots of formal education, and little "real world" experience. People are living longer, but, that's not being more evolved, that's advanced medicine - which in some cases makes as many side effects and issues as it cures.

Half the time, I wonder if we'll eventually work up to nuclear war, annihilate the majority of civilization, who will be left back in the dark ages as they struggle to survive, build and advance ... and the cycle repeats.

Sir Wolf:
i never think of man as evolved, rather he has progressed. now whether that progression is into something better or worse it's a case by case bases lol

Sir William:
I agree with you all; I don't think we've evolved much, if at all- progress seems a better term for it.  At heart, we're a lot like our ancestors...with the capacity for acts of valor as well as perfidy; we can hate and love just as powerfully as before - although some may be blind to it in themselves.

The only thing that separates us from our ancestors is what we might term 'advanced civilization'.  Every apocalyptic-themed movie that has shown the collapse of civilization seem to have done their research.  Not that it is hard to know human nature...civilization and its mountains of laws, rules and conventions...but all of that is driven by the knowledge that their are consequences to every action.  Until the person or persons responsible for enforcing said laws are either no longer willing or able to do so, or are no longer part of this mortal coil- leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves.

I think that's one of the reasons why I like the comic book The Walking Dead so much; its less about the zombie aspect and more about the interpersonal relationships between the survivors.  I don't keep up with the show, altho I do know it is worth watching if you have the time.  These weren't all good people, but they're grouped together for a purpose and I enjoy the writing- the characters don't come off as one-dimensional archetypes, they seem very real, with realistic fears and desires and the things they've gone thru in the comic book are truly horrific.  You can almost see it happening...well, you can because its a comic but I think you all know what I mean.

Sir Edward:

I think that's very much how it is, that human nature hasn't changed much at all since the beginning of civilization, in both its positive and negative traits. While technology progresses, cultures come and go, but humans are basically the same.

There is also a the idea that human intelligence is just one more evolutionary "experiment" on the part of Earth's biosphere, one that may eventually prove to be maladaptive and thus die out. :)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page