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Understanding our Evolution |
The first think to understand about our evolution is that it is not our evolution. It is the evolution of the universe. The universe evolved into us. We are the universe evolving. We are a dust particle that exists for an instant. Yet as small and short lived as we are we evolved to the point that we can comprehend the universe. And since we are the universe, the universe comprehends itself through us. We are the essence of reality becoming self aware through us.
It seems to be that evolution s a property of the universe. The formula for evolution is randomness with selection on survival. That which continues stays in reality. That which fails to survive leaves reality. Forever separated from existence. That creates an equation to create complexity.
Energy turns in matter. Matter fuses in stars to create heavier elements. Stars explode creating more elements. New stars are born. Planets form in the accretion disks. The third planet becomes the Earth. Life forms and evolves into bacteria. One day a a single bacteria tries to eat a single archaea and they fuse and become the first eucarya. And from that single individual all plants, animals, and fungus evolved.
What are we really? Our cells are individual life forms. Yet do I see myself as a community of cells, 90% of which are not human? Of course not. I am a person. And I'm self aware. At least my mind think I am. But am I really self aware? Do I know what I am?
My hands appear solid but in reality - they aren't. We're made of atoms and atoms are separated by great distances. Over 99% of us if empty space. Matter itself started out as energy. We're photons and force fields. Electromagnetism holds the dots together. For all we know this might all be a simulation.
The idea that reality is a simulation is unlikely. But what if we found out we aren't really individuals. That we are cells in some greater being. In fact we are. You are not an individual. You are a member of the hive. So fully integrated that even your thoughts are not your own. And - I can demonstrate this is so.
As you read these words these are not your words. These are not your thoughts that you are thinking. You are thinking my thoughts. My thoughts in your brain. But they aren't my thoughts either. I'm just organizing thoughts from other people, things I watched, things I read. We think that the universe started with a "big bang" but I don't know that. It's not my idea and truth told, I'm not smart enough to understand that. That knowledge is in some elses mind. I know it through a network of trust. I am a member of the world community. I am a cell. My thoughts are but one voice in a chorus.
But to call all of humanity a single organism ignores all the other organisms on the planet that creates the biological community that sustains us. They evolved along with us. We all came from the same place. We all came from a little piece of pond scum.
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