Having finished reading the brilliantly written short story The Most Dangerous Reality by Rick Chesler, I hopped back to Bill Nye's Undeniable, a book discussing the main topic of this article: evolution. No, I'm not done with the book yet; it is just I caught this spark of inspiration to make an article out of, as Richard Dawkins calls it, "the greatest show on Earth".
Many moons ago humanity was blind. People of yesteryear did not know the real nature of living things. It seemed that everything just came on the scene all of a sudden, like a magician conjures up a rabbit from his hat. Their judgment about how life came to be was severely clouded. It wasn't really our ancestors' fault, though – we can't really blame them for their lack of understanding of nature. Just like evolution itself, humankind took time to better comprehend the world around them. As science progressed, our blinders were slowly lifted up, allowing us to see a clearer, more genuine picture of reality. We now have a way better grasp of life and I think we should be incredibly grateful for that. (I can't help but wonder, had Charles Darwin not discovered the theory of evolution by means of natural selection, who would have done so?)
Evolution may seem like a hard punch to many people. Apparently, a fair number of fellow humans still find it difficult to accept and embrace this explanation of life emergence and existence. Of course, it is a great pity, but I think it can be well explained. Learning about evolution means challenging our ego. We humans are accustomed to and enjoy seeing ourselves as the "rulers of the planet", having full control of everything within it and deserving to revel in every bit of it. We are at the top of "nature's caste". But is it really the case? Evolution implies that we humans are no different than others. All living things occupy their own niche and exist simply because they have managed to survive in their own unique way. For humans, it is definitely our intelligence that has gotten us to this point, but, as Kenneth Lacovara said in an interview with FRANCE 24 English, it is "not the only way to [keep alive]." Thus, there is no good reason to hold humans higher than other organisms in this regard. (see also: Are We a Perfect Being?)
Perhaps, to some people, the reality that evolution brings comes across as intimidating or unsettling. But think about how pitiful and unfulfilling it is to dwell in delusion, however satisfying it may appear? How many missed opportunities would have led to profound advancements in society? Humility is a prerequisite for the acceptance of evolution. And the thing is, like it or not, this natural phenomenon is always at work, regardless of people's belief or lack thereof.
Ultimately, evolution is a humbling revelation to humankind and one of the greatest treasures the human race has ever discovered. Isn't it such a blessing to live in an age where we can rejoice in the comprehension of this unveiled "secret of nature"?
Note: If you'd like to learn more about evolution (its mechanism, trends, etc.), I thoroughly recommend reading Evolution in Minutes by Darren Naish.
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