One Fine Animal, We Humans

Laura Darlene Lansberry

from a post to Colloquy

The growth of knowledge and the growth of population has been amazing, during any age. But nothing like the last hundred years! I think part of it is simple mathematics ... the more people we have the more people exist who are equal to, if not slowly and tediously evolving into something more than, the venerated "renaissance man!" I have seen with my own eyes incredible talents, skills, and abilities do not always, as cream in milk, rise to the top, but are lost because of the immense difficulties of gaining prominence in a world where there are, perhaps, millions of people who can "keep the motor of the world turning!" (borrowing from Ayn Rand!)

I have found in my journey, art, poetry, music, writing, and creative ideas that take my breath away. I have also seen art, poetry, music, and writing that has become prominent that leaves me indifferent. In time, and if no one gains sufficient power over the world to limit or censure our "newest toy", the trend will be to greater knowledge and more people! There is already an explosion of web sites presenting the views, talents, and works of thousands of people that would, a decade back, have had no means of publishing their work. The world wide web could possibly be the most significant development in the history of the human species. I wonder how many of us realize the sheer potential it offers, even me! GriN!

What can it mean for the future? The world wide web allows almost anyone to publish and preserve the thoughts and knowledge they have accumulated that, from their perspective, might be of use to the future. This will, of course, produce immense amounts of special interest information, and it will also allow people to come together without conflict and learn about one another. It tends to be difficult to demonize and hate people when you understand and know they are as real as you.

What have we wrought? If we were to bring an ancient Greek citizen, or Roman, whatever, to this century he would perceive us as gods, more powerful gods than any conjured up in the mythical imaginations of his time and space. Our inventions, our creativity, our imagination, has given us powers to dwarf the gods of the past, and, as the tapestry weaves itself into an unknown future, our powers and abilities may lead to a place ... well, perhaps, in the absence of a god, we are in the process of creating one, ourselves.

Immortality, for those foolish enough to want it, may be right around the corner. Contacting aliens from another world may take centuries, but if it happens ... what wonders might that bring? What of learning to understand other species. Kanzai, a young bonobo chimp learned sign by watching researchers teaching an older chimp. Dolphins and whales have developed a highly specialized intellect for surviving in the sea ... learning how to understand and communicate with them can broaden our understanding. Just think, now that we are allowing women to participate equally in the world, we have more than effectively doubled the pool from which we have to draw knowledge. Virtual reality, advancements in computers, understanding the human genome, quantum science, general science, logical ability ... and yes, I think even ethically we are growing! We have come to realize the "morality" of the past must be left in the past. It was false, destructive, and not ethical or just! It provided that certain groups could survive, but only at the expense of other groups.

Yes, we are changing, who is foolish enough to think that the process of evolution ends with ourselves? We are not the same people of decades and centuries past. The changes have been small, but they accumulate, and "one small change for an individual, in the passage of time, becomes one giant leap for us all!"

Warmly,
Laura

P.S. Yeah, I really groove on the human species ... one fine animal, we humans!