The Homo sapiens Complex
TEMJ 20287 - Soul of humanity, Hominids, Primates, Tree of Life, Rungs in the Evolutionary Ladder, Noosphere, Artificial Life, Population Growth and Density, Charles Mingus, and Buckaroo Banzai
Greetings Fellow Earthmonks,
With the onset of longer and darker winter nights, in addition to being diagnosed with pneumonia, I decide write and share a contemplative journal entry. “What is it about?”, you ask. This journal entry is about “us humans”. It is entitled "The Homo sapiens Complex”. It delves into the intricate history of hominoids, revealing a convergence of evolutionary characteristics. It starts by exploring the relationships within the evolutionary tree of life, emphasizing the adherence to phyletic mechanisms and ends with where this might be leading us as a new human species.
Hominid - a primate of a group that includes humans, their fossil ancestors, and the anthropoid apes.
The section, “Rungs in the Evolutionary Ladder" provides a comprehensive overview of hominid cerebral capacities, challenging the reliability of the law of succession in paleontology. Where and why do we have the ‘jumps’ in evolution? This journal entry also examines the rise of farmer-herders over hunter-gathers, attributing dominance to adaptability, innovation, and social structures.
It then explores "Global Population Growth and Density" and its impact on the environment and humans. Moreover we will contemplate Homo sapiens’ population growth, questioning the sustainability of resources and consumption.
The concept of the "Noosphere" is introduced, suggesting a future consciousness less dependent on earthly constraints. The narrative extends beyond morphology, portraying a nuanced journey through time. The journal entry advocates for a holistic understanding of complex systems, propelling humanity towards an interconnected and evolved state of higher consciousness.
"Laugh - while you can, monkey boy!"
From the 1984 cult classic film, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension."
The Homo sapiens Complex
Let’s start our journey by looking back into the intricate history of hominoids. A fascinating complexity has emerged that reveals a lineage that not only exhibits a multitude of characteristics but also demonstrates a unique convergence in its evolutionary origin.
Furthermore, examining the ancestral species of the human race, in contrast to contemporary humans, provides a captivating glimpse into the adherence of man as a phyletic mechanism. In this pursuit, paleontology, although faced with its own set of challenges, remarkably aligns these ancestral species, forming a descending series that sheds light on the intricate progression of our heritage.
Beyond mere morphological considerations, the structure of the hominoid group unfolds as a dynamic narrative, exhibiting a proclivity for cleavage and dispersion.
The Tree of Life
As one navigates the intricate branches of the tree of life, the rhythm and richness of the ancestral figures become increasingly pronounced, portraying a nuanced portrayal of humanity's journey through time and evolution. In contemplating Homo sapiens evolution on the tree of life, several questions arise in my own mind:
Why did the first Homo sapiens diverge and become distinct species?
Did Homo sapiens evolve from a single origin or did we have multiple origins?
When will there be a new super-species of Homo sapiens?
Will we even recognize the emergence of this new super-species of Homo sapiens as our self or will we perceive this new super-species as alien (non-human intelligence)?
To get answers to these questions, we must understand the tree of life. It is important that we nail down some scientific terms used in the research.
Polyphyletism is a term used in biology, particularly in the context of phylogenetics, to describe a situation where a taxonomic group has multiple evolutionary origins. In other words, the members of the group do not share a common ancestor.
Hologenesis, generally refers to the concept of singular evolutionary or developmental process that leads to the creation of something whole or complete, used in various contexts including philosophy and biology.
In the section below, I sketch out how the tree of life might sprout a new branch by using the example of Homo erectus.
If I could travel back in time, I’d like to be Pithecanthropus erectus, or 'erect’ ape-man. It was the most primitive and smallest-brained of all known early human species. I’d want to know what it must have felt like, to go from walking on all-four, to walking on only on two feet. Pithecanthropus was later changed to Homo erectus. I would want to be called Javaman, this makes me sound like a super-hero, which is much cooler and is a coffee reference.
The very first few steps must have been startling and on par with Neal Armstrong. You know, all that failure is now behind you now. What a feeling. Then you master walking on two feet and you realize your a Bad-Ass-MF-er (thats BAMFer). Proud as a tom-turkey - you start prancing and strutting your junk. Then you realize all the ladies are paying attention to you. That’s cool too! You are on top of the world. Then the ‘other’ guys, want to know how you do it - imitation and mimicry.
In this thought exercise, you are responsible for adding a branch on the tree of liffe, you created a new species called ‘Homo rectus’. You are the original Homo erectus, and the rest of guys are now going into the dust bin of history. Next thing you know, humanity jumps forward, and sprouts a new branch. But you also realize there is much more work to be done. You need to also work on your smile, those long molars and incisors have got to go.
The analogy extends to discerning whether a human is merely a leaf on the same branch or if we represent a new leaf, on a new branch of the tree of life. Amid this evolutionary narrative, the primal instinct to compete for natural resources remains a constant force shaping our collective journey. Growth creates an opportunity for a new species to emerge.
Rungs in the Evolutionary Ladder
The law of succession is crucial for understanding the evolution of species over time and reconstructing the history of life on Earth. It provides valuable insights into the temporal distribution of organisms and helps us establish the chronological order of fossilized remains in different geological strata. To open this discussion let us look at the cerebral capacity (cc.) for each hominid in the non-exhaustive list below. Please note these are general estimates and are subject to great variance.
Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Unknown (fragmentary fossils).
Orrorin tugenensis: Unknown (limited cranial remains).
Ardipithecus kadabba: Unknown.
Ardipithecus ramidus: Estimated around 300-350 cc.
Australopithecus anamensis: Unknown.
Australopithecus afarensis: Around 380-430 cc.
Australopithecus africanus: About 450-550 cc.
Australopithecus garhi: Unknown.
Kenyanthropus platyops: Unknown.
Paranthropus aethiopicus: Unknown.
Paranthropus boisei: Around 450-550 cc.
Paranthropus robustus: Around 450-550 cc.
Homo habilis: Approximately 510-660 cc.
Homo rudolfensis: Unknown.
Homo erectus: Ranged from 600-1250 cc.
Homo antecessor: Unknown.
Homo heidelbergensis: Estimated around 1100-1400 cc.
Homo naledi: Unknown.
Homo floresiensis: Estimated around 380 cc.
Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals): Average of about 1200-1600 cc.
Homo sapiens (modern humans): Average around 1300-1400 cc.
Let me know which one you would like to be and why in the comment section at the bottom of this journal entry.
The rise of Homo sapiens remains a puzzle, with theories ranging from climate change to the restlessness of the human soul. The origin of Homo sapiens and their success in supplanting pre- Homo sapiens raises questions about the reliability of the law of succession in paleontology. This law, rooted in the observed pattern of fossils succeeding one another in stratigraphic sequences, aids in dating rock layers. It suggests that fossils in the same layer share a similar age, providing valuable insights into Earth's history and the evolution of species over time.
Hunter-gathers and Farmer-herders
The dominance of farmer-herders over hunter-gathers is a complex interplay of factors. While climate change may have played a role, the farmer-herders adaptability, technological innovation, and social structures likely contributed to their supremacy, leading to the eventual replacement of the hunter-gathers in the course of human evolution.
At some point in time, Homo sapiens might have been categorized as an invasive species. The invasive species out competes the native species for natural resources such as air, soil, and water.
Population Growth and Density
As the Homo sapiens population grows and increases on the planet, uninhabited land will diminish and migration will be stifled. We can see this has historically been true for us as a species. Under the pressure of necessity, humanity transformed from hunter-gatherers to farmer-herders. Homo sapiens were driven by the efficient use of air, land and water—extracting more from less.
As we developed new social constructs, we have less of a need for migration. This shift also led to a loss of respect for the environment, with nature being domesticated and destroyed at a global scale. Some will argue that modern transportation has improved our mobility, yet some of us live in the same house for our entire life. In the next 50 years, rising global population density will reinforce a less ‘migratory’ life - 15 minute cities.
Life is obliged to move forward and consume as much inhabitable air, soil and water as is needed? However, what happens when we consume more air, soil and water, and then even more?
Despite our efforts today towards Re-Wilding, the headwinds of global population growth today threaten to undermine these restoration efforts. Increasingly, we will witness the degradation of air, soil, and water in the pursuit of social efficiency. The stark reality is, as population density increases, our mobility will decrease. We will be packed in like sardines. We see this today in urban cities through out the world. Moreover, the global pandemic demonstrated how remote work and learning would limit our mobility.
Population Bomb
In 1963, the world population was estimated at 3.9 billion. In 2022, it had doubled to 8 billion. This is a compounded annual growth rate of 1.63%. I estimate that by 2066, in 44 years, the global population will double again, reaching 16 billion people on Earth.
If you are currently a 22 years old, you will witness how the quality of our air, soil, and water will be further impacted. By the time you turn 66, the globe will have undergone dramatic changes. So what will we do, how will we evolve as a species?
The Noosphere
In "The Phenomenon of Man," Teilhard de Chardin proposed one way we may evolve, he calls it the concept of the "Noosphere" which he envisions - as a sphere of human thought enveloping the Earth. It represents the collective consciousness and intelligence of humanity, a network of interconnected minds influencing the evolutionary trajectory. The Noosphere is seen as the next stage in Earth's development, transcending the biosphere, and it reflects Teilhard's belief in a global convergence of human minds and spiritual energies toward a higher level of unity and awareness.
Several philosophers and thinkers have explored ideas related to the Noosphere and expanded upon Chardin's concepts. One notable figure is Edgar Morin, a French philosopher and sociologist. Morin has written extensively on complex thought, encompassing the interconnected nature of human knowledge and consciousness. While not a direct continuation of Teilhard de Chardin's work, Morin's ideas align with the exploration of the complexity and interconnectedness of human thought and consciousness.
Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, Morin's work emphasizes the necessity of considering diverse perspectives to comprehend the intricate nature of reality. Through his concept of "complex thought," Morin advocates for a holistic understanding, recognizing the interdependence of various elements. He contends that isolated, reductionist approaches limit our comprehension of complex systems, and to fully grasp the essence of human thought and consciousness, one must adopt a more integrated and interconnected perspective across multiple disciplines.
As Homo sapiens advance into an era marked by technological innovation and intellectual evolution, the prospect of transcending our current state of consciousness becomes increasingly conceivable. The trajectory toward a heightened awareness less reliant on earth bound, materialistic dependencies such as air, soil, and water are unfolding. Emerging paradigms in artificial intelligence, neurobiology, and philosophical explorations of interconnected consciousness pave the way for a future where the essence of human awareness might disentangle itself from traditional earthly bound constraints.
This journey, driven by a symbiosis of scientific progress and philosophical inquiry, holds the potential to redefine our understanding of existence and propel Homo sapiens into a realm of consciousness that transcends the limitations imposed by the physical world. Will this be the point in time where we add a new branch to the tree of life and expand upon “The Homo sapien complex”? I do see great promise in the future. The ability to migrate beyond our bodies will restore mobility. This will redefine life! Let’s call it, a new Artificial Life (AL).
In the past humanity followed the seasons. We would migrate to where we would find food. This migration also allowed us to eat food in-season, where as today we can eat fruit out-of-season, 365 days a year. Will our species be resigned to Plato’s Republic and the Allegory of the Cave, all bound up and staring at shadows on a wall - I mean iPhone. Or will we live an AL and migrate between the artificial and the real - more along the lines of Neo, from the movie ‘The Matrix’. Here we will once again become a new invasive species and out-compete the older species?
Leave me a comment below and PLEASE let me know what you think!
No Matter Where You Go,There You Are
To borrow the phrase from "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension". Thank you for getting this far down the trail and for reading The Earthmonk Journal. We have made it back to the trailhead, back to our vehicle.
If you like what you have read, please subscribe to the journal. As the trail concludes, the Earthmonk's invitation to subscribe resonates, extending an opportunity to further explore the marvels of the natural world. It is free and it is a great way to learn more about nature, and support me and my work
.
Do you know someone else who would enjoy this journal, please share it.
Otherwise please feel free to leave me a comment below.
- The Earthmonk
Whoa Vince. Amazing dissertation! I'd have to say that I'll remain a homo sapiens.... number 21!
David Bowie has seen it. https://youtu.be/8tCC9yxUIdw?feature=shared