Closing Human Evolution: Life in the Ultimate Age (Paperback, 1st ed. 2015)

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.

General

Imprint:	Springer International Publishing AG
Country of origin:	Switzerland
Series:	SpringerBriefs in Evolutionary Biology
Release date:	August 2015
First published:	2015
Authors:	Ladislav Kovac
Dimensions:	235 x 155 x 7mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	125
Edition:	1st ed. 2015
ISBN-13:	978-3-319-20659-2
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Life sciences: general issues > Evolution Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics & moral philosophy > General Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics & moral philosophy > General Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy
LSN:	3-319-20659-1
Barcode:	9783319206592

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