The train which we all late: problems of anthropogenesis

Abstract

In the era of accelerated social and humanitarian transformations (globalization, growth of social inequality, etc.), consideration of the issue of the prospects for the development (evolution) of mankind is becoming increasingly relevant. It moves from the area of ordinary worldview curiosity to the sphere of “practical” interest. This article is an attempt at an objective answer from the standpoint of a synthesis of philosophical and natural science approaches to the problem of the prospects for the development of mankind. From a position based on concrete facts, and not on the “love of wisdom”, which, as a rule, is not supported by anything from real knowledge. Important for understanding the prospects of mankind is the idea of the ecological niche to which it is adapted. The main property of ecological niches is constant “escape”, which leads to a gradual “lag” of biological forms from environmental conditions. True, there is a hyper-adaptive strategy or over-adaptation. Superadaptants “strive” to cover the qualitative parameters of the environment as much as possible, i. e. in allegorical terms, “overtake” the train of evolution. “Wait” for him at the “next evolutionary station”. Mankind seeks to find a way out of the current situation in the following areas: 1) we will learn the world and begin to control natural processes; 2) environmental protection; 3) use of new technologies and resources; 4) disease control. It is time to get rid of utopias like noospheres and technospheres. The biological environment (man) lives according to biological laws (not excluding social ones). The end of the evolutionary tunnel is visible, because we still exist. Yes, the train of evolution has already disappeared. One hope: “those who come after us will be better (wiser) than us.”