by Naresh Jotwani for the Saker blog
People often wrongly interpret the process of natural selection – which drives the evolution of living species – by the phrase ‘survival of the fittest’. However, the latter phrase can be highly misleading – for two reasons. One reason is that ‘survival’ may be wrongly understood as ‘survival of an individual’, whereas the correct understanding should be ‘survival and continuation of a species’. The second reason is that a criterion of ‘fitness’ is left unspecified in the second phrase. If these two potential errors are avoided, ‘survival of the fittest’ can be brought into agreement with ‘natural selection’.
To avoid the first of these potential errors, we must focus our attention on the species rather than an individual member of a species. In modern terminology, this would mean that – even in this ‘age of the individual’! – attention must be paid to the health of communities.
The second potential error, however, requires a little more effort to avoid. We need a definition of ‘fitness’ that is ‘natural’ – a definition, in other words, which is consistent with the process of birth, nurture, growth, decay and death. Indeed, since this process captures the true and natural meaning of life, we need a criterion of fitness which is consistent with all of life.
A summary view of the process of evolution can provide us with useful guidance.
If the earliest single-celled organisms had not been extremely fit in a biological sense, the advent of life on this planet would have been short-lived. Even today – some four billion years after their emergence on earth – single-celled organisms are doing rather well. In their ability to adapt and to reproduce, these organisms are truly unmatched. Anyone doubting this statement need only consider the emergence of varieties of drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals around the world.
The fitness that these organisms have demonstrated for so long – and continue to do so – can be described as economic use of available resources of sustenance. It is reported that when amoeba are placed in a Petri dish containing a sugar solution with varying concentration, the amoeba move towards regions of higher sugar concentration. Presumably, that organism finds it easier to survive and grow where the sugar concentration is higher. Reproduction follows as a natural consequence.
In general, smaller and therefore less specialized species are economically fitter than larger and more specialized species; termites are economically fitter than the wild ass, for example. A similar argument applies also to species of algae, plants, fish, crustaceans and so on. Plants are economically fitter than animals because they can make direct use of sunlight and water – both abundant resources. Plant seeds are much more durable than animal eggs, and one plant produces far more seed than a single animal produces offspring. Thus the criterion of economic fitness is seen to hold true in nature.
Throughout the long period of evolution, the criterion of biological fitness has driven the process of natural selection. But biological fitness is necessarily also economic fitness, in the sense of efficient use of life-sustaining resources. Any lack of economic efficiency is punished, either directly by forces of nature, or indirectly by competing individuals of the same or other species.
The broad evolutionary process as outlined here prevailed on earth for billions of years – until about a hundred thousand years ago and the emergence of Homo Sapiens.
***
Today the ostensibly dominant species on the planet is ours, Homo Sapiens. The actions of this species are having a major impact on our biosphere, and therefore the newly coined term Anthropocene is being used to describe the geological epoch starting with the industrial revolution.
In the Anthropocene epoch, it appears very likely that the only bigger land animals which will avoid extinction or near-extinction will be the ones reared by humans as livestock, for economic reasons – as serving the human economy. These are animals such as cattle, poultry, horse, camel … and so on.
Being more adaptable, smaller animals – on land and in water – will thrive even when not reared by humans. They also provide essential ecological links in agriculture and in the rearing of livestock. In this way, the smaller animals will survive and thrive ‘under the radar’ of human economic activity; from the point of view of planned human economic activity, their role will be indirect.
The entire ecology of planet earth will become affected to a very large degree by the economic activity of Homo Sapiens. But the natural criterion of biological fitness will continue to apply to lower organisms which live ‘under the radar’ of human economic activity. These lower organisms will continue to adapt naturally to human-moderated eco-systems; being less specialized, they will be biologically fitter than humans themselves. Indeed, throughout the period of evolution, it has probably been never the case that the dominant large species have also been biologically the fittest ones.
By adopting ‘heavily protected lifestyles’ using their enormous intellect and ingenuity, Homo sapiens create conditions which diminish their own biological fitness. However, as we have noted, in a very fundamental sense biological fitness also has to be economic fitness. If a person spends, for example, a million dollars a year to live in a luxurious and protected environment, then from the point of view of biological fitness the million dollars a year may well be an enormous waste of resources.
From this perspective, recent economic theories are seen to be the pathetic works of limited human intellect failing to understand living economics – the economics of Mother Nature. We may say that a few millennia of greed and lust, often disguised as religion and civilization, is going against the grain of four billion years of natural economics which has worked so successfully.
One imagines arrogant Victorian-age gentlemen – puffed up with early discoveries of science and easy loot from colonies – announcing proudly their project of ‘conquest over nature’. A couple of hundred years later, as we enter the Anthropocene era, it appears that the conquest will be illusory and short-lived, as long as the deadlier unnatural forces of greed and lust remain unconquered.
The economics of death, powered by greed and lust, is thus pitted against the economics of living nature. It is not very difficult to predict the outcome. In the near future, given that enormous amounts of greed and pride have been driving the economics of death, it can be predicted that all that misdirected energy must burn itself out before a semblance of sanity is restored.
We have heard about squirrels storing nuts in preparation for a harsh winter; and similarly humans also prefer to put something aside ‘for a rainy day’. Fair enough. But squirrels are not known to ‘go nuts’ over their stored nuts. Sadly, humans do go completely nuts over what they put aside – and they invent all kinds of stories about civilization, religion, race … et cetera … to camouflage their madness.
In the meantime, it may be noted that Homo Implacatus – the latter word meaning ‘discontented’ – is a more suitable name for the species which has wrongly been named Homo Sapiens.
***
A corollary of the above argument is that excessive economic inequality in human society is wasteful in a biological sense. Suppose person W – for ‘wealthy’ – consumes 100 times more resources than what is needed to meet his or her needs for a decent life, whereas person P – for ‘poor’ – consumes only half of what is required to meet similar basic needs. From the point of view of biological fitness, both A and B are missing out on the ‘the optimum middle’ which is consistent with natural sustainability.
It is often proclaimed that – just because he or she ‘commands more resources’ – person W must also be ‘morally superior’ to person P. However, in terms of human psychology, very little separates the two. The wealthier person has extra cunning, wealthier friends and relatives, and much more ‘freedom’ to be uneconomical in his or her utilization of resources. All other claims pertaining to moral or cultural superiority are, on critical examination, found to be self-serving and unsustainable.
None of the ‘extras’ available to the wealthier person contribute to his or her biological fitness. There is no fundamental reason why a poorer family cannot bring up its children well – and there is no guarantee that a wealthier family will always bring up its children well. Children’s upbringing is also an aspect of living economics, and love is a far more essential ingredient than material possessions.
A fairer economy would avoid excessive exploitation and extremes of inequality; it would also avoid any systemic negligence in the upbringing of the next generation. Such an economy would be in harmony with the living economics of nature, which has sustained life on earth from ‘day one’.
Sadly, that worthy goal remains out of reach as long as people proclaim loudly that ‘greed is good’.
We may consider a specific recent example. The subprime mortgage crisis in the US was caused by the fact that greedy but naïve people were cheated and exploited by greedy and cunning people. Naturally, the former were in much larger numbers, since that is a characteristic of economic exploitation. That entire episode of ‘mega-greed’ – including the ensuing government bailouts – damaged the overall economy of the country and worsened the deep schisms running through the society.
After studying such episodes of ‘mega-greed’, it would be difficult to argue that ‘greed is good’.
The so-called ‘modern science’ of Economics is totally out of sync with living economics, which is the true economics of Mother Nature. The ‘fake science’ of Economics keeps inconvenient costs out of its books of accounts, and always comes up with wrong diagnoses and wrong prognoses. Nonetheless, because of the ignorance and greed of political leaders, this ‘fake science’ rules the roost.
We must hope for a smooth transition from the economics of death to living economics. However, far too much psychic energy has already been invested in the unnatural theories which justify exploitation of nature, exploitation of fellow human beings, and economic gain through bloody conflict.
A painful denouement, or catharsis, is therefore inevitable – as has happened many times in human history. As before, such periods of violent house-cleaning are followed by rationalizations, often based on hoary books. A competition ensues among ‘scholars’ to show who is cleverer, or which hoary books have been proved right. Madness born of greed gets classified as ‘a higher form of civilization’.
***
Sadly, a morbid dance of greed and lust seems to be hardwired as one potential expression of the human genome. In any historic age, the actual expression of this potential is usually disguised as some form of ‘higher civilization’ – quite simply because the undisguised reality cannot survive the light of truth. Five thousand years of recorded human history vouches for this morbid potentiality; and possibly even the unrecorded prior period might have been no different in that respect.
We cannot naïvely expect that this morbid potential will not express itself in the Anthropocene era.
However, there will be one crucial difference from now onward – and a major reason for hope. That crucial difference is a far higher level of awareness, understanding and wisdom all around. We may call this a globalization of awareness, understanding and wisdom.
People around the world have suffered the depredations of the morbid potential of unrestrained greed and lust. Once people understand its true nature, they will be better able to devise defence mechanisms which are founded on creativity and compassion.
While the short-term outlook may appear bleak, over a longer term it may become much more difficult for the 1% to exploit the 99%. All myths of superiority – based on race, caste, ideology, nation, God’s will, religion, manifest destiny … or any other such blah blah blah – may be exposed and rejected.
The huge imponderable at present seems to be the following:
In the coming decades, which form of globalization will have more influence over human lives – that of finance, power and violence, or that of awareness, understanding and compassion? The latter would be in harmony with the living economics of nature, while the former represents the economics of death, which is nothing but camouflage for the greed and lust of Homo Implacatus.
The author appears to have misunderstood the word “fit”. We need to consider jigsaw puzzles rather than fitness gyms. If that particular butterfly fits that particular flower, we’re in business.
If the author’s “smaller and therefore less specialized species are economically fitter than larger and more specialized species” makes sense, we should put smaller nuts on the wheels of our cars. (Don’t!)
Sorry Virgil, but biological fitness is described as the capacity to produce viable offspring, that is, raise offspring to reproductive age. Although that was not spelled out in the article, nothing there contradicts that concept.
The author actually expanded on the concept in an interesting and meaningful way.
Your final sentence shows that you misunderstood the quote about smaller less specialized species. The author’s point was valid. More specialized species are more at risk from environmental changes.
I should have added in regard to the point about more specialized species being at greater risk, that this applies to nations also.
When the global environment changes, eg imposition of sanctions, nations that cannot diversify will go under. So we see that Russia has worked towards economic independence, and will be stronger for it.
Very interesting, it reminds me of philosophy of the movement that began in the 1960s called sometimes The Whole Earth movement, or the Back to The Land movement, basically when hippies gave up on society and went looking to create communes in touch with spirituality and nature. That movement was then attacked as fringey “new age” crazies because a lot of the youth movement was turning in that direction at the end of the 60s and the establishment wanted young Americans to be gung-ho for the war in Vietnam. That still goes on today although with another agenda–to destroy the anti-war and anti-Wall St. left:
“What is the left known for today? Mostly for Identity politics and climate change activism. What happened to the anti-Wall St and anti-War left? Were they bought out, transformed, defanged, and purposefully refocused for the benefit of the corporate world — by changing their driving ideology into being singularly concerned about racial and ethnic issues, cultural issues, sexual and gender issues, and climate?” From The New Progressive World Order or: Rage Against The Deus Ex Machina
There is an antiwar demonstration to take place on February 19 in Washington D.C.*. What little of the true left that still exists may be making a resurgence. Unfortunately, just about all of the “left” organizations as well as the environmental organizations have been infiltrated, and are effectively neutered to function as “faux left” front organizations for the establishment. For example, although the environmental and climate change problems are very real, only “corporate solutions” which in reality are no solutions but rather are money making scams is all that is being put forth. People feel the B*S*. Much of this is being recognized by the true left, but unfortunately the rock they have been squashed under, i.e. the rock that they have been trying to get out from under, is a big one.
*https://actionnetwork.org/events/go-to-washington-dc-to-rage-against-the-war-machine
For the last 70 years, human natality rates have decreased worldwide, with a total 50% decline.
Excess mortality: Deaths from all causes compared with average over the past ten years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNT-YNLhprw&t=2s
Australia 9%
Canada 3%
Denmark 30%
England 20%
Finland 9%
France 25%
Germany 43%
Hungary 11%
Ireland 20%
Netherlands 37%
Norway 28%
New Zealand 17%
Poland 21%
Portugal 6%
Romania – 4%
Scotland 13%
South Korea 18%
Slovakia 2%
Sweden 9%
Switzerland 12%
Taiwan 25%
United States 12%
Thanks, Naresh Jotwani, for a very interesting point of view. I have saved it for further study to compare it to my own worldview of a life lived in Christ.
It is a mark of the amazingly high quality of this site, that even in these last days (2 more weeks to sit down), such beautiful articles keep coming each day.
Well, all good things do one day end, but we are richer for having found this site.
Insightful and well argued. By the author ‘s own characerization, life contains the seed of death, as well birth, nurture, growth, and decay. Therefore the author should not be surprised if the same process of life is applicable to species, such as humans, and the creations of such species, such as civilization and religion. In other words, human species, civilization, religion, will follow the same trajectory from birth towards decay and death. And so goes for the whole enterprise called life on earth. Mother Nature will decay and die as well. The author adds that awareness and wisdom can provide hope… does this mean that awareness and wisdom can somehow break this cycle? Are they somehow not a part of this process?
The essence of ‘the Eastern view’ is: Yes, with awareness and wisdom, an individual can break free of the cycle. ‘Peace that passeth understanding’ also says the same thing, I believe.
Hope for individuals? Yes, for those who attain peace.
Hope for all of humanity? Probably not, because many individuals are rushing headlong in the opposite direction.
Hope for life on the planet? YES, because vegetation and the smaller life forms are incredibly economic and adaptable.
Naresh I don’t think he was talking about individual cycles. I personally believe that the larger cycles to which he is referring can not be broken, However I do believe that through an awareness of history and the nature of cycles that are larger than the individual, they can at least have their amplification decreased to a point where they pass virtually unnoticed. As an example I would refer you to Josephs interpretation of the Pharaohs dream.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/557137/jewish/Why-did-Pharaoh-accept-Josephs-dream-interpretations.htm
I find it interesting that the long cycle Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev ( like Sergey Glazyev who is also a long cycle economist) discovered around 120 years ago, before he was executed during Stalin’s “great purge,” that there was a 7 year cycle to wheat.
The main problem is the failiure to recognize that Science, is a sub set of Religion.
All civilizatons are built on a fundament of Religion(s), remove the fundament and the super-structure collapses.
Darwins Theory of Evolution, is reallly a truism, that have been promoted and abused by TPTB for the get go.
The ‘survival of the fittest’ is a self evident truth, regardless of wheter it is observed on the macro level (individual) or micro level (the group). It has been used to justify the position of the powerful in the world, from a ‘Scientific’ basis vs formerly Religious.
In the last 50 years, average human sperm concentrations dropped by 51.6 percent, and total sperm counts dropped by 62.3 percent, according to a study published last week in the journal Human Reproduction Update. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 223 papers published between 1973 and 2018.
The article inspires me to this observation:
The person who consumes a larger proportion of wealth may be viewed in a different way: the paradigm of the host and parasite, or more accurately, symbiote.
The wealthy person necessarily creates work (that is, opportunity for economic fitness) for numerous others, to sustain their own consumption. Generally this is a very lopsided ratio, perhaps several thousand economically fit individuals involved in all the aspects of the wealthy person’s life. If the wealthy person was not there, the others would have to find other ways to support themselves (which may not exist in their environment. If you throw the yacht owner overboard and take possession of the yacht, there are no more paychecks, unless you resort to either piracy or renting out to other wealthy persons, and then you’re back where you started, except with added responsibility for maintenance headaches.)
The wealthy person is the host. The economically-fit are the parasites, or perhaps better, symbiotes, since neither can do as well without the other. (Working for someone who can afford to pay is generally better than subsistence farming.)
Forgotten in the lurid tales of the wealthy only eating the larks’ tongues is that the kitchen staff got to eat the rest of the lark. (One is moved to consider that such ‘delicacies’ may well have been the self-interested suggestion of said kitchen staff.)