Chapter 6Chapter 6

The Protoplasmic VentureThe Protoplasmic Venture

“Humans can’t live without seeking to describe and explain the universe.” (Sir Isaiah Berlin)

Four Great Etiological Four Great Etiological QuestionsQuestions

1.1.What is the origin of life?What is the origin of life?

2.2.What is the origin of human What is the origin of human beings?beings?

3.3.What is the origin of matter?What is the origin of matter?

4.4.What is the origin of the What is the origin of the universe?universe?

Biochemical EvolutionBiochemical Evolution

•Alexander Oparin (1922)Alexander Oparin (1922)

•J.B.S. Haldane (1928)J.B.S. Haldane (1928)

•Stanley Miller (1953)Stanley Miller (1953)

•First laboratory synthesis of a First laboratory synthesis of a complete mammalian gene (1975)complete mammalian gene (1975)

•Cyril PonnamperumaCyril Ponnamperuma

•George Wald (1957)George Wald (1957)

The Beginning of Life The Beginning of Life on Earthon Earth•When did life begin on the planet When did life begin on the planet Earth?Earth?

•Fossil records indicate that life Fossil records indicate that life developed sometime between 4.5 developed sometime between 4.5 billion years ago and 3.5 billion billion years ago and 3.5 billion years agoyears ago

•During that billion-year period, During that billion-year period, some wonderful and incredible some wonderful and incredible events were taking placeevents were taking place

Earth’s Life-Forms: An Earth’s Life-Forms: An InventoryInventory•““Hot thin soup”Hot thin soup”

•1.5 million species of living 1.5 million species of living organismsorganisms

•10,000 new species added annually10,000 new species added annually

•Estimated 10 million species of Estimated 10 million species of organisms existorganisms exist

•Estimated 10 billion species Estimated 10 billion species produced by evolution on Earth since produced by evolution on Earth since planet beganplanet began

Biogenetic TheoriesBiogenetic Theories

•PanspermiaPanspermia

•Spontaneous generationSpontaneous generation

•HylozoismHylozoism

•CreationismCreationism

•VitalismVitalism

Can “Life” Be Defined?Can “Life” Be Defined?

• What is “life”?What is “life”?

• Self-replicationSelf-replication

• MutabilityMutability

• MotilityMotility

• MetabolismMetabolism

• GrowthGrowth

• IrritabilityIrritability

• Dynamic EquilibriumDynamic Equilibrium

Evolution as a Field Evolution as a Field TheoryTheory

•Darwin’s genius: 1) his ability Darwin’s genius: 1) his ability to bring a synoptic mind to to bring a synoptic mind to these disparate elements and these disparate elements and fit them all together; 2) his fit them all together; 2) his meticulous gathering of meticulous gathering of scientific data to support his scientific data to support his theorytheory

Three Basic Processes Three Basic Processes of evolutionof evolution

1.1.The laws of heredityThe laws of heredity

2.2.Mutations produced by changes Mutations produced by changes in the DNA codein the DNA code

3.3.The dynamics of natural The dynamics of natural selectionselection

Evolution Based on Five Evolution Based on Five ObservationsObservations

1.1.Species produce like speciesSpecies produce like species

2.2.There is an enormous excess of There is an enormous excess of reproductive materialreproductive material

3.3.Individual variations in genetic Individual variations in genetic characteristicscharacteristics

4.4.Competition for food and living Competition for food and living roomroom

5.5.Environmental niches are dynamicEnvironmental niches are dynamic

Evolution and MeaningEvolution and Meaning

•The Doctrine of ProgressThe Doctrine of Progress

•Nietzsche, The main goal of Nietzsche, The main goal of history is to produce a man who history is to produce a man who has such greatness that he has such greatness that he would be a new specieswould be a new species

•Bergson, Vital Life-forceBergson, Vital Life-force

Evolution and ProgressEvolution and Progress

•Natural Selection is an Arms Natural Selection is an Arms RaceRace

•Evolutionary ConvergenceEvolutionary Convergence

•EpigeneticsEpigenetics

A Case of Convergence: A Case of Convergence: The EyeThe Eye• Represents a new worldview for Represents a new worldview for understanding all living thingsunderstanding all living things

• Exactly the same structures, functions, Exactly the same structures, functions, and behavioral mechanisms exist everywhere and behavioral mechanisms exist everywhere throughout the animal and plant kingdomsthroughout the animal and plant kingdoms

• The eye as an example of convergenceThe eye as an example of convergence• Eyes have continued to evolve along Eyes have continued to evolve along independent lines of developmentindependent lines of development

• No individual organism should be seen as a No individual organism should be seen as a stage on the way “up” to something elsestage on the way “up” to something else

Suffering and the Arms Suffering and the Arms RaceRace

•““Terrible but true, the Terrible but true, the suffering among wild animals is suffering among wild animals is so appalling that sensitive so appalling that sensitive souls would best not contemplate souls would best not contemplate it.” --Richard Dawkinsit.” --Richard Dawkins

•What is the meaning of human What is the meaning of human suffering?suffering?

•Traditional Problem of EvilTraditional Problem of Evil

Philosophic Philosophic ImplicationsImplications

•““Do we understand how life Do we understand how life evolves”?evolves”?

•What does it mean to say this?What does it mean to say this?

•Chemical biogenesis as first-Chemical biogenesis as first-magnitude field theorymagnitude field theory

•Ethical considerationsEthical considerations

•Cosmic implicationsCosmic implications

Philosophic ProblemsPhilosophic Problems

•IrreversibilityIrreversibility

•ConvergenceConvergence

Charles DarwinCharles DarwinThe Grandest SynthesisThe Grandest Synthesis

• Darwin saw the key to the puzzle: the Darwin saw the key to the puzzle: the mechanism of evolvement is the mechanism of evolvement is the “struggle for survival” and the “struggle for survival” and the “survival of the fittest.”“survival of the fittest.”

• Under the perpetual threat of Under the perpetual threat of starvation and annihilation in the starvation and annihilation in the harsh environment, all species of harsh environment, all species of life on Earth continually struggle life on Earth continually struggle for survival, and only the fittest for survival, and only the fittest survive.survive.

Reflections…Reflections…

•What do you think are the most What do you think are the most far-reaching philosophic far-reaching philosophic implications of the biochemical implications of the biochemical theory of the origin of life? theory of the origin of life? Do you feel a sense of relief Do you feel a sense of relief that foundations have been laid that foundations have been laid for an empirical answer to this for an empirical answer to this question?question?

HumansHumans

•This chapter describes the This chapter describes the evolutionary context for evolutionary context for reflecting on the human reflecting on the human situation and suggests that situation and suggests that evolution has now taken a new evolution has now taken a new and unpredictable turn.and unpredictable turn.

The Sculptor-GodsThe Sculptor-Gods

Pottery as a universal skillPottery as a universal skillShards of pottery have been found Shards of pottery have been found wherever people have livedwherever people have lived

Clay figurines were made for funClay figurines were made for funCreation myths based on sculpting clayCreation myths based on sculpting clayExamples: Tu, Titi and Tame; Ewe-Examples: Tu, Titi and Tame; Ewe-speaking tribes of Togo, West Africa; speaking tribes of Togo, West Africa; Toradjas of the Celebes; Hebrew Toradjas of the Celebes; Hebrew account of creation; Shilluks of account of creation; Shilluks of White NileWhite Nile

The Story of Human The Story of Human OriginsOrigins

•Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens – “wise humans” – “wise humans”

•Homo HabilisHomo Habilis

•AustralopithecusAustralopithecus (Lucy) (Lucy)

•Homo erectusHomo erectus

Update: Human OriginsUpdate: Human Origins• Sahelanthropus tchadensisSahelanthropus tchadensis• Australopithecus afarensisAustralopithecus afarensis• Australopithecus africanusAustralopithecus africanus• Ardipithecus ramidusArdipithecus ramidus• Homo ergasterHomo ergaster• Homo floresiensisHomo floresiensis• Homo habilisHomo habilis• Homo erectusHomo erectus• Homo sapienHomo sapien

Still Trying to Define Still Trying to Define “Human”“Human”

•Physical characteristicsPhysical characteristics

•Ethical feelingsEthical feelings

•Esthetic feelingsEsthetic feelings

•Religious feelingsReligious feelings

•Soul-essence (Soul-essence (psychepsyche))

The Killer-Ape TheoryThe Killer-Ape Theory

•Killing “on principle”…inherited or Killing “on principle”…inherited or learned?learned?

•Leakey and Lorenz and the killer-ape Leakey and Lorenz and the killer-ape theorytheory

•Montagu’s dispute of the theoryMontagu’s dispute of the theory•How do we humans differ from our How do we humans differ from our animal kin regarding feelings of animal kin regarding feelings of aggression?aggression?

•What distinguishes humans from other What distinguishes humans from other animals?animals?

The Immense JourneyThe Immense Journey

•Rapid progress in Rapid progress in science/technology has science/technology has radically altered the selective radically altered the selective function of the environmentfunction of the environment

•Destruction of our natural Destruction of our natural environmentenvironment

Soren KierkegaardSoren Kierkegaard“That Individual”“That Individual”

• Now called Existentialism, it is a Now called Existentialism, it is a philosophy of the experiencing human philosophy of the experiencing human self, and Kierkegaard’s life is the self, and Kierkegaard’s life is the story of one man’s search for what it story of one man’s search for what it means to be humanmeans to be human

• ““The thing is to understand myself…to The thing is to understand myself…to see what God really wishes me to do; see what God really wishes me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die.”which I can live and die.”

Reflections…Reflections…

•Make an attempt to define Make an attempt to define “human.” How would you describe “human.” How would you describe “essential man”? What are some “essential man”? What are some of the problems we must face in of the problems we must face in developing a definition?developing a definition?

EarthEarth

•This chapter is a meditation on This chapter is a meditation on humankind’s relationship to humankind’s relationship to other living creatures on Earth other living creatures on Earth and to the Earth itself. It and to the Earth itself. It raises the question of who has raises the question of who has a right to control and exploit a right to control and exploit other species.other species.

Our Place in the Scheme of Our Place in the Scheme of ThingsThings

•General evolutionGeneral evolution

•Human evolutionHuman evolution

•Cultural evolutionCultural evolution

•3 stages: 1) Parent-child 3 stages: 1) Parent-child relationship; 2) man as relationship; 2) man as conqueror; 3) protective conqueror; 3) protective feeling toward naturefeeling toward nature

An Ecospheric EthicAn Ecospheric Ethic

• Who has a right to do what to whom and Who has a right to do what to whom and why?why?

• The notion of “right”The notion of “right”

• Professor Sessions assessmentProfessor Sessions assessment

• Rachel Carson’s attackRachel Carson’s attack

• St. Francis of AssisiSt. Francis of Assisi

• Professor Charles Hartshorne’s “Ultimate Professor Charles Hartshorne’s “Ultimate Value”Value”

• Professor John Cobb’s “intrinsic Professor John Cobb’s “intrinsic criteria”criteria”

Coexistence - In Life & Coexistence - In Life & DeathDeath

•Physical/ecological relationshipsPhysical/ecological relationships

•Psychological/ecological Psychological/ecological relationshipsrelationships

•Why do we kill for pleasure?Why do we kill for pleasure?

•Human sacrificeHuman sacrifice

•Anthropomorphizing animal kin: 1) Anthropomorphizing animal kin: 1) we can’t help it; 2) we want we can’t help it; 2) we want other creatures to like usother creatures to like us

““No Man Is An Island”No Man Is An Island”

•Each is a part of the whole, Each is a part of the whole, subject to the same physical subject to the same physical forces that move the atoms and forces that move the atoms and the planetsthe planets

•We are part of an awesome We are part of an awesome protoplasmic ventureprotoplasmic venture

Albert SchweitzerAlbert SchweitzerReverence for LifeReverence for Life

•Reverence for life – “In that Reverence for life – “In that principle my life has found a principle my life has found a firm footing and a clear path firm footing and a clear path to follow.”to follow.”

Reflections…Reflections…

•Think about Schweitzer’s Think about Schweitzer’s Reverence for Life – a concept Reverence for Life – a concept he believed to be “the he believed to be “the realistic answer to the realistic answer to the realistic question of how man realistic question of how man and the world are related to and the world are related to each other.” How do you feel each other.” How do you feel about this all-inclusive ethic?about this all-inclusive ethic?

FutureFuture

•This chapter describes several This chapter describes several future scenarios, both future scenarios, both optimistic and pessimisticoptimistic and pessimistic

The Theoretical LifeThe Theoretical Life

•Practical lifePractical life ( (praktikos biospraktikos bios) ) – short-range goals– short-range goals

(…versus the…)(…versus the…)

•Theoretical lifeTheoretical life ( (theoretikos theoretikos biosbios) – long-range goals) – long-range goals

Research Into the Research Into the FutureFuture

•Utopias and anti-UtopiasUtopias and anti-Utopias

•Futures research: 1) Futures research: 1) forecasting techniques; 2) forecasting techniques; 2) world catastrophe; 3) world world catastrophe; 3) world systems; 4) past frameworks systems; 4) past frameworks obsoleteobsolete

•What is the goal of futures What is the goal of futures research?research?

Mankind at the Turning Mankind at the Turning PointPoint

1.1.A world consciousnessA world consciousness2.2.A new ethic in the use of A new ethic in the use of

material resourcesmaterial resources3.3.An attitude toward nature must An attitude toward nature must

be developed based on harmony be developed based on harmony rather than conquestrather than conquest

4.4.A sense of identification with A sense of identification with future generationsfuture generations

The Futurists & the The Futurists & the FutureFuture

•No single world-picture, although No single world-picture, although there is remarkable agreement on there is remarkable agreement on many pointsmany points

•Short-range futuristsShort-range futurists

•Middle-range futuristsMiddle-range futurists

•Long-range futuristsLong-range futurists

•Alvin Toffler’s Alvin Toffler’s Future ShockFuture Shock

•Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. Clarke

A New Kind of RealismA New Kind of Realism

•Based on a more objective Based on a more objective assessment of empirical data, assessment of empirical data, this realism attempts to this realism attempts to project a variety of scenarios project a variety of scenarios in the hope we can, in time, in the hope we can, in time, face them and solve themface them and solve them

The PlayersThe Players

•Sir Fred HoyleSir Fred Hoyle

•Edward O. WilsonEdward O. Wilson

•Robert T. McCallRobert T. McCall

•Ray BradburyRay Bradbury

Many Futures: A Common Many Futures: A Common VisionVision•Today’s world has come unglued, Today’s world has come unglued, unraveledunraveled

•There is a pressing need for a There is a pressing need for a sense of global identity and a sense of global identity and a shared vision of the future – a shared vision of the future – a reason to existreason to exist

•A shared vision of our common A shared vision of our common future is therefore enormously future is therefore enormously importantimportant

Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich NietzscheThe Glory of Becoming The Glory of Becoming

HumanHuman•Nietzsche built on a theory of Nietzsche built on a theory of evolution to reinterpret the evolution to reinterpret the history of the human race and to history of the human race and to lay foundations for his grand lay foundations for his grand vision of the future of mankindvision of the future of mankind

•““Will to power” as the basic Will to power” as the basic drivedrive

•UbermenschUbermensch – “Superman” – “Superman”

The Nietzsche MythThe Nietzsche Myth

•Myth: Nietzsche is a bigoted anti-Myth: Nietzsche is a bigoted anti-SemiteSemite

•Myth: Nietzsche is an advocate of Myth: Nietzsche is an advocate of Darwin’s Evolutionary TheoryDarwin’s Evolutionary Theory

•Only after Nietzsche’s death was Only after Nietzsche’s death was his philosophy appropriated as his philosophy appropriated as official ideology of Nazi official ideology of Nazi apologeticsapologetics

•The Germans saw themselves as the The Germans saw themselves as the “master race”“master race”

Reflections…Reflections…

•Recall the statement that opens Recall the statement that opens this chapter: That we create the this chapter: That we create the past and can also create past and can also create alternative futures; and that we alternative futures; and that we need both past and future to see need both past and future to see ourselves in perspective. How ourselves in perspective. How much value is there in this way much value is there in this way of looking at ourselves and our of looking at ourselves and our place in time?place in time?