EAN: 9783319206592

SPRINGERBRIEFS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY CLOSIN...

This volume analyses the evolution of humankind by combining approaches from science and the
arts. It offers a novel perspective on the evolution of life on Earth  based on a recent
reformulation of the second law of thermodynamics in terms of the maximum entropy production
principle. In essence  the Earth is but one of many white holes in the universe  where life
functions as a specific arrangement for the rapid dissipation of energy gradients by generating
self-organized structures. Evolution of life in the universe is a creative process of
increasing complexity as a Bayesian ratchet of knowledge accumulation  advancing in an
evolutionary maze characterized by myriad blind alleys. On Earth  the human species has
progressed more than any other by creating artefacts that have become both agents and products
of in our cumulative cultural evolution. Culture has dramatically enhanced the rate of
dissipation of energy gradients. Extrapolating from the acceleration of cultural evolution
suggests that humanity will reach the Civilization Singularity in the middle of the 21st
century  a point in time at which the rate of changes  and hence their unpredictability and
uncontrollability  will converge to infinity. Humankind has now entered the ultimate age  in
which the exuberance and splendour of human feats may be metaphorically likened to fireworks.
The author highlights a new role of scientists as intellectuals who can create music for the
fireworks by analysing the consequences of the astounding dynamics in order to make the closing
phase of human evolution a sublime one marked by minimal political and social tensions.

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