The Meaning of Human Existence is a 2014 nonfiction book written by American biologist Edward O. Wilson. Wilson’s main thesis for The Meaning of Human Existence is pretty much what the title implies. In the book, he examines mankind’s place within the universe as well as the importance of science and the humanities in the progress of our species. One of the topics Wilson covers in The Meaning of Human Existence is the newer idea of multilevel selection. Multilevel selection recognizes two levels of natural selection: individual selection and group selection. Individual selection is based on competition and cooperation among members of the same group, whereas group selection arises from competition and cooperation between groups. Multilevel
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This can be seen through the evolution of the human brain. All species depend on a central nervous system including a brain. However, the brains of most species depend on instincts to help them survive in Earth’s environment. Humans are unique in having a brain with a mind capable of independent thinking and free will. Wilson explores the basis that free will is biologically adaptive. Why have no other species developed a conscience? Other species have existed for much longer than humans, yet no other species have shown the human traits of consciousness or free will. If conscious humans exist as a result of pure evolutionary chance, as Wilson implies, then human existence has no existential meaning. That is, humans have no more meaningful existence on Earth than ant colonies. This conclusion is apparent given how humans have now overwhelmed the planet and yet are incapable of governing our existing large social communities. Despite higher intelligence and generations of experience with war and conflict, we have not been able to harness our capacity for free will toward creating a more peaceable, self-sustaining planet. Thus, free will is …show more content…
In one chapter of the book, Wilson extensively talks about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. He mentions that if these aliens exist, they would be more interested in our cultural evolution rather than our sciences. Assuming that there are other living beings out there and they do want visit Earth, they would have to be far more advanced scientifically than us. Anything we have discovered, they would have learned centuries before us. Cultural evolution is different because it is a product of the human brain. To understand our cultural evolution from the outside looking in, it would require a vast knowledge of the inner workings of the human brain and of the countless personal histories that make up the humanities. Our cultural evolution differentiates us from other species. Even though we have evolved similarly to other species, the poet’s sonnet is far different from the spider’s web. Wilson repeatedly defends the humanities as the ultimate in human creativity, and he frequently mentions his hopes for the fusion of the humanities and science. In the end, the knowledge of science will be the same the world over. However, there 's no limit to creativity and evolution of the
This can be seen through the evolution of the human brain. All species depend on a central nervous system including a brain. However, the brains of most species depend on instincts to help them survive in Earth’s environment. Humans are unique in having a brain with a mind capable of independent thinking and free will. Wilson explores the basis that free will is biologically adaptive. Why have no other species developed a conscience? Other species have existed for much longer than humans, yet no other species have shown the human traits of consciousness or free will. If conscious humans exist as a result of pure evolutionary chance, as Wilson implies, then human existence has no existential meaning. That is, humans have no more meaningful existence on Earth than ant colonies. This conclusion is apparent given how humans have now overwhelmed the planet and yet are incapable of governing our existing large social communities. Despite higher intelligence and generations of experience with war and conflict, we have not been able to harness our capacity for free will toward creating a more peaceable, self-sustaining planet. Thus, free will is …show more content…
In one chapter of the book, Wilson extensively talks about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. He mentions that if these aliens exist, they would be more interested in our cultural evolution rather than our sciences. Assuming that there are other living beings out there and they do want visit Earth, they would have to be far more advanced scientifically than us. Anything we have discovered, they would have learned centuries before us. Cultural evolution is different because it is a product of the human brain. To understand our cultural evolution from the outside looking in, it would require a vast knowledge of the inner workings of the human brain and of the countless personal histories that make up the humanities. Our cultural evolution differentiates us from other species. Even though we have evolved similarly to other species, the poet’s sonnet is far different from the spider’s web. Wilson repeatedly defends the humanities as the ultimate in human creativity, and he frequently mentions his hopes for the fusion of the humanities and science. In the end, the knowledge of science will be the same the world over. However, there 's no limit to creativity and evolution of the