The Evolution of Human Consciousness

The Evolution of Human Consciousness, the Emotions and Depression.

A Rest Stop From Depression and Thoughts of Suicide

Evolution:
The Specialization and Generalization of Species

Life is change. Without change there is no life.
Change creates stress. Stress necessitates evolution.

What is the cause of stress? An environmental change or situation which the organism is not genetically equipped to rectify. The organism must evolve in order to survive. Specialization (micro-evolution by natural selection) is the evolutionary process as theorized by Charles Darwin. Generalization (macro-evolution of specialized forms under stress) is the formation of new orders of species, a process which Darwinists have yet to explain.

In a relative stable environment species specialize in order to survive. Specialization allows each species to find a niche within a slowly changing environment in response to competition for scarce resources (evolution by natural selection). Mistakenly, specialization has traditionally been thought to be the primary medium whereby life evolves to a higher order. But, specialization does not insure survival, as the existing genetic behaviors are seldom sufficient to cope with a rapidly changing and increasingly complex environment.

The generalization of species allows the life form to utilize the combined refinements of prior specializations in order to develop a new order. Generalization is triggered by stress (the inability of an existing form to cope or survive in a rapidly changing environment). The generalized new order always evolves an increased capacity to interact with the changed environment in order to survive. The generalized form immediately begins to specialize in response to competition for scarce resources.

Specialization leads to diversity of form and each new form finds a niche where they can uniquely survive. Generalization, in contrast, leads to consolidation of form where each new form utilizes prior specializations and is increasingly able to adapt in order to survive.

The present day evidence of specialization include all life forms on Earth except one, that being Humans. In fact, Human Beings are already well into the process of generalization. Insects, all microscopic forms, plants, reptiles, mammals, and even the extinct dinosaurs are evidence of highly specialized life forms.

There is little likelihood of finding paleontological evidence of the generalized form, as it resides within the population of a dividing species (or more precisely on the periphery of a population under stress), until such time that the division is so pronounced that the two are no longer able to procreate (point of divergence). The generalized form then seems to suddenly appear and immediately begins to specialize. The paleontological evidence of this division only becomes apparent after each form has specialized sufficiently in reaction to their unique environments. The difference in the two forms, over time, is more a function of accelerated specialization by the existing form, than it is of the new generalized form which appears more immature.

How is it possible for stress to trigger generalization and the formation of a higher order of being? The stressed proteins in our cells probably trigger a feedback loop which the RNA transmit to the genes causing an acceleration in the rate of gene mutation (desperately looking for a relief of stress). Since pseudogenes and DNA introns evolve much faster than their counterparts, it may be that these are held in reserve for when a population is threatened by unresolved stress.

I further believe that specific genes are targeted in response to environmental stress. If this is true, then it would indicate that generalization is not entirely a random process and that it has direction, maybe even purpose.

Human Beings no longer live in a natural environment, their environment is now a result of their own intellect. That environment causes an unprecedented level of stress which is accelerating the evolution of a new generalized order of being, without the traditional upheaval of a natural environmental change.

There presently resides within our population the precursor of the new generalized form of Human Being, as yet unrecognized and undefined.

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