1.3 A Glimpse Of Evolution
Last modified 05/26/2008
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As we proceed to examine the eonic effect we begin to get a reality check
about what we mean by 'evolution'. The eonic effect represents 'evolution of
some kind' by default, and almost by definition: any process of 'rolling out in
time' that shows systematic properties is 'evolution'. We don't need to use this
term to describe our findings, which also have an equally good description as a
'universal history' or some kind of long-sought, but suddenly discovered, factor
of Big History, or 'macrohistory'. It is useful to study the phenomenon as is,
on its own terms.
But finally the implications begin to dawn on us: we are being given a glimpse of 'evolution' in action, albeit one that seems at first focused on purely cultural factors. The problem is that the effects are so vast and comprehensive that we begin to suspect that whatever the case with purely genetic evolution, here we have something that operates beyond the reductionist level. And we can't avoid this conclusion save by playing ostrich to the results obtained by nothing more than systematic periodization. This reality check induces a sense that we might have discovered something that ought to apply to earlier stages of human evolution at least. We can't be making statements about a strange new discovery of 'macrohistory' and then simply go back to our previous Darwinian assumptions about earlier man. If this is the way civilizations 'evolve', then... We suspect that the descent is likely to all of a piece, and that evolving civilizations, and evolving proto-cultures, will share a common evolutionary matrix. We have, unexpectedly, stumbled on the 'how' of some kind of 'macrohistory' now a candidate for 'macroevolution'. We have had a glimpse of evolution, in fact.
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