Archive Project - College Essays #4

Archive Project - College Essays #4

Eve as a Metaphor:
Chaos and Punctuated Equilibrium in the Rise of Homo Sapiens
November 12, 1996
Anthropology 101 – WSU

(A – Impressive Intellectual Journey! Extremely interesting. Well done!)

Introduction

The search for the first human ancestor is rich with unfolding questions about the very nature of human existence. Whether or not one believes in evolutionary theory or divine creation there is a common interest in finding Eve. There is either the first human divinely created ancestor or the first human ancestor of what would be considered to be Homo sapiens. In an evolutionary search for Eve a number of additional questions must be posed in order to get to the heart of the matter. There are a number of competing possibilities in regards to the evolutionary development of humans. There must be a unique aspect to the human brain that allows humans to interact with the world or else it is simply a matter of circumstances that allows each human to develop. The search for the first human ancestor requires an understanding of the limitations of the archaeological record and the willingness to extrapolate beyond the physical evidence. Despite the daunting task of trying to determine the who, what, where, when, and why of the first human ancestor it is an essential problem for science and philosophers that must be addressed head on. Some might say that it cannot be done. Eve existed, either divinely created or as the product of evolutionary developments, and we must try to find her through the mists of time.

Topic 1: Chaos and Punctuated Equilibrium in Human Evolution

Evolutionary theories attempt to define and describe the changing dynamic of life through time. There is significant argument over the prevailing theories of how life has evolved. There are those who would say life evolves slowly as adaptations and mutations are blended into the gene pool through time in what is called phyletic gradualism (Schultz & Lavenda, 1995: p87). There are those who would argue that the evolutionary record indicates a series of evolutionary leaps, there the line between the new and the old species is clear and abrupt in what is call punctuated equilibrium (Schultz & Lavenda, 1995: p89).
Phyletic gradualism has its merits in regards to the process of passing traits on to the next generation of a given species but is limited by its scope. Punctuated equilibrium is supported by the fossil record and goes farther in explaining when a new species emerges. In this sense phyletic gradualism becomes an explanation for the mechanism for the slow changes in a species between the abrupt bursts of change. The changes can be abrupt for many reasons. The geologic and fossil records show a number of significant defining lines between eras due to environmental changes brought on by glaciation, extraterrestrial impacts, and the shifting of the continents. The slow progress between the sudden shifts is the constant struggle for life and the adaptation necessary to remain in a given climate. For a species to survive the sudden shifts associated with ice ages it is necessary for relatively quick and abrupt adaptations. Some of these adaptations would be severe enough to define a newly emerging species over a short period of time where those who did not inherit those new traits would die off quickly and cease to reproduce.
There is a dynamic at work in the evolutionary process that is wrought with chance and a seemingly impossible to number set of variables (Hall, 1977: p44). The science that tries to work with defining dynamic forces that seem random but in fact have a degree of order within them is chaos. Chaos theorists do not accept that all disorder cannot be defined. If there is no order in what is seemingly random disorder then there could not be any reemergence of order to the system. Somewhere in the dynamic is order at a base level (Gleick, 1987: p317) even in nature.
Evolutionary models are a dynamic that beg for chaos theories to be applied to them (Hall, 1977: p183). The variables are only seemingly constant in that they never stop changing. Punctuated equilibrium in chaos is the period of order that emerges from the period of dynamic disorder of rapid changes in environment and adaptation to emerge a new species.

Topic 2: The Development of the Human Brain

The human brain is quite possibly a unique thing. It is unique in the sense of what it has accomplished in comparison to the other inhabitants of the planet. Biologically speaking, the human brain is incredibly similar to that of many other creatures (Sagan, 1977: p88). Somehow we have managed to utilize our brains in ways that other creatures have not, which could be the result of the subtle variances in our brains but could also be due to other physiological and evolutionary factors that are not as yet understood.
The complexity of the human brain is not it question. What is in question is; are the subtle differences in the human brain of such importance that they physiologically gave us a mental edge over others? Other primates are able to handle simple language and tool usage and share many features of our brains (Calvin, 1994: p101). It is apparent that the combination of subtle variations in our lobes and in the folds of our brains gives human brains their current capacities. The circumstances of biology and environment have allowed us to use those differences to our continued evolutionary advantage. Human evolution seems to have relied upon intelligence in the rise of Homo sapiens and is likely to be a defining factor in our ongoing evolution (Sagan, 1977: p199).

Topic 3: The Search for the First Human Ancestor

The search for Eve is a search for the defining line in evolution where we can claim to have emerged as Homo sapiens. The search includes direct fossil evidence of bone remains and indirect evidence in the form of artifacts or other environmental impacts. It is also helpful to know where to look for such evidence. The most prominent and promising evidence points to Africa for the first humans.
There have been a number of significant fossil finds over the years. From Lucy to more recently dated finds there is a record to trace back (Schultz & Lavenda, 1995: p154). However, the record is incomplete for a variety of reasons concerning the difficulty of remains surviving through time and the difficulty of finding those there to be found.
Genetic research holds some clues but it hampered by the same problems that the fossil record is hampered by. In fact, gene research relies on the fossil record for samples and data and requires even more of a fossil in the sense of what is usable for research. As a result of the myriad problems facing researchers the search for our ancestors is more often one of theory and conjecture based upon what little evidence is available for proof (Sagan & Druyan, 1992: p361). The line between Homo sapiens and the most recent ancestor keeps shifting (Shreeve, 1990: p52).

Discussion/Conclusion

The search for Eve is as much a search for identity as it is a scientific undertaking. If there is a constant in behavior for all humans it is the search for what has come before and what came first. Historically, the questioning of our ancestry has not gone beyond myth and legend where we left everything up to supernatural forces beyond our control or understanding. Today we have found that there is physical evidence to trace and extrapolate from that has caused a continuance of the search for Eve through the scientific method.
It is apparent from the research that has been done that Homo sapiens rose over a long period of time. There were many steps along the way. The question is no longer one of “did we evolve?” but one of “how did we evolve?” Evidence is continuing to point toward rapid evolutionary leaps as we uncover the geologic record and find sudden changes in climate. Only a species that rapidly evolved could survive and thrive in a new environment. The dynamic is difficult to define and measure and even harder to prove. Competing theories will continue to test the veracity of the conclusion that we arose through a series of leaps and simply as the result of slow and steady changes.
The ability to manipulate the world with our minds is a defining aspect of our humanity. The human brain is able to perform complex functions without being absolutely unique. Human evolution could be related to our ancestral ability to use the brain. If our ancestors were the first to adapt rapidly not simply based on a physical trait but based on an ability to reason it is unlikely that will be found directly in the fossil record. Humans are physically ill suited to a number of the environments that they have survived and thrived in. It is the use of the mind to determine how to manipulate food, shelter, and clothing in various environments that is unique.
Since the rise of Homo sapiens is evidently linked to the rise of our intelligence; the search for Eve must include a definition of intelligence that is unique in that a variety of creatures are able to reason on certain levels. If one accepts the notion that a chimp using a stick to dig has made the mental leap to reason the use of a tool then we must define human intelligence as something broader (Gould, 1996:p43). To find something broader in human intelligence in the fossil record requires searching through other aspects of historical records including are and architecture.
It can be argued that human intelligence has led to a prolonged period of punctuated equilibrium. The rapid changes in technology and art over the past several centuries are but a blip in geologic time. The capacity of humanity to adapt and survive has been taken off the planet (Sagan, 1980: p314). We are part of a dynamic period of change in human evolution. The record will indicate that humans were going through a massive series of changes all contingent on the development of human intelligence during our lifetimes.
The search for Eve is often metaphorical and often poses more philosophical questions than the science can answer. As the search continues we continue to learn about our origins. As we search for the past humans continue to evolve forward at a remarkable rate. Knowing where we actually came from is important for wherever it is we are going.

Further Study

The search for the first human ancestor has an extensive number of areas for further study. The possibilities range from a general study of archaeology to the philosophical discussion of the nature of human existence. We are all attempting to analyze the evidence that is out there and must keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds open to the possibilities without disregarding unappealing evidence simply because it does not fit our paradigm for human ancestry.
A major area that would be worth increasing further study is the study of various chaos theories as they relate to evolution. The unfortunate problem with applying these theories is that they are potentially catch-alls that would be used to simply fill in the gaps of the historical record. Instead of striving to fill scientific voids or admitting that there is more work to be done it would be a simple matter to chalk it all up to an unpredictable dynamic. The similarities philosophically between such lazy science and the way in which creation myths have been used throughout human history to explain away the otherwise unexplainable are difficult to ignore. Chaos must be developed further and monitored for possible breakthroughs that could enhance the understanding of evolutionary development.

References Cited

Calvin, William. “The Emergence of Intelligence.” Scientific American. Oct. 1994: 100-107

Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York: Penguin, 1987.

Gould, Stephen Jay. “Creating the Creators.” Discover. Oct. 1996: 42-54.

Hall, George. Farewell to Darwin: The Unified Field Theory of Physics, The Genetic Process, & Psychology. St. Louis: Warren H. Green, Inc. 1977.

Sagan, Carl. Broca’s Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science. New York: Ballantine, 1980.

Sagan, Carl and Druyan, Ann. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search For Who We Are. New York, Random House, 1992.

Schultz, Emily and Lavenda, Robert. Anthropology: A Perspective on the Human Condition. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1995.

Shreeve, James. “Argument Over a Woman.” Discover. Aug. 1990: 52-59