The next stage of human evolution.

(NOTE:  The term "evolution" used below is not according to the usage in the 
modern science of biology regarding genetic change alone, but as the entire 
process by which life developed upon this planet including genetic change.
I consider this relatively recent restriction of the term in the science of 
biology to be far too restrictive in a general philosophical discussion.)

Everyone has seen X-men 1&2 about the "next stage of evolution." One of the 
funny things about evolution and history is that these are things that happen 
in everyday life, only the participants are often unaware of what is 
happening all around them. I believe that we are in the next of evolution 
already. 

Only it not Darwin's theory because he had no "next stage" in his theory. But 
there are stages. If we look far enough back into the past, there was a time 
that there were only single celled organisms. And if we look carefully at our 
cells we see evidence that these too were once composed of smaller more 
primitive independent units (similar to bacterial and algae). Darwin's theory 
cannot explain these gaps. According to his theory the individual cells 
should continue struggling against each other for survival, so that only the 
fittest survive. 

But this is not what happened. If we look at our bodies we will find that 
most of our cells no longer have the ability to survive on their own. By 
working together and sheilding each other, protecting weaker members they 
have changed all the rules of evolution. For them it is no longer survival of 
the fittest, it is survival of the community. 

The driving force of evolution is always variation. Leaps of evolution occur 
when something happens that make a whole new range of variation possible. The 
beginning of sexual reproduction was one of those leaps. But think now about 
the inherent limitation that Darwin's evolution imposes upon variation. When 
it is all about individual survival, then there is not much room for 
variation is there? We should all be farmers or hunters in that case, don't 
you think. 

Isn't it clear that human beings have also taken a step into the next stage 
of evolution. Don't we now protect the weaker members of the community? Look 
at what liberation it has brought us. Look at the variety of man. Have we not 
changed the rules of evolution ourselves? The use of glasses is a perfect 
example of how we are in the next stage of evolution. Just as individual 
cells have overcome their limitations with the technology of its community 
(think of the human eye), we have overcome the limitations of our biology and 
individual evolution with the technology of the community of man. And just 
like the cells in our body, the community has become our greatest concern and 
our encompassing environment. 

When you look at the human body where are the X-men? By forming a community 
of cells, we have allowed some cells to evolve fantastic specialized 
abilities that could not exist if they had to survive on their own. The 
neuron is a great example. I believe that the liberation from the need to 
satisfy the requirements for individual survival is a key stimulus for the 
next stage of evolution. In this case, where are the true X-men in today's 
humanity? Are they not those we call handicapped? Do not those who are blind 
develop their senses and abilities in ways that other people do not. I saw 
this special on TV earlier this year about people with Williams syndrome, and 
in addition to physical difficulties they also had above average abilities in 
other areas like sociability, hearing and music. 

As our society learns to accomodate and provide active social roles for the 
handicapped are we not changing the rules of evolution. Could we be creating 
the conditions for the next stage of human evolution where we will see the 
real X-men of our future.