I think I would have to agree that
Evolution doesn't go backwards, meaning both
anti-evolution and
devolution are somewhat
bunk. I don't argue that
human kind might be losing some of it's "
virtues", or at least those things previously seen as its
virtues. But, to say evolution is working backwards denies what evolution is.
Evolution: that process which develops, alters, and terminates species based on their reproductive success and genetic shifts(i.e. natural selection).
(definition taken from my "society killed evolution" WU)
The way that
evolution works is to give a higher
market share, so to say, to a
species which
fits its niche. Meaning, when the
niche changes, -- when
pollution increases,
water-levels rise,
other species die, or
technology is born, those species which are
adapted to the
new environment will survive, reproduce more, and fill the
gene pool.
And relatedly, when humans no longer need to have perfect eye-sight to survive, evolution will no longer select for vision. This doesn't mean, though, that the human species has devolved or experienced anti-evolution. It simply means that evolution no longer chose for that characteristic.
It is important to remember that Evolution has no long-term memory : it simply wants, if my anthropomorphism will be excused, to aid immediate survival. This is also the reason why the human brain can't really understand itself -- that was not necessary for survival, or why people have a tendency to be short-sighted -- the tiger around the corner is, in the eyes of evolution, more dangerous than the Global Warming a 100 years down the road.
Reply to No_comply's revamped WU:
Anti-Evolution is a state that a species will enter when it reaches a level of advancement sufficient to over rule the laws of natural selection and survival of the fittest. This is the state that the population of humans has reached.
I fear I can still not agree with this. First, to say that we break the
laws of nature, requires us to re-examine whether or not they are laws. Personally, I think they hold. Despite the fact that we have
technology and
society, we continue to be
mortal beings who feel these processes (i.e.
evolution).
I don't know if I made it fully clear, but our technology does not remove us from the evolutionary loop rather it itself becomes part of our system. Evolution is the system. There's no stepping outside of it.
This definition of evolution as system might be a little loose, but I firmly believe that evolution is present at every level, and despite what "advancements" are made, it will be present. In an altered form perhaps, but there nonetheless.
One other point:
Evolution implies advancement. As defined by webster evolution is the opposite of involution which implies the loss of traits.
First, we need a solid
definition of
advancement. In the
biological sense, this is reversed.
Advancement implies evolution. There is no other measurement that can be used other than the change of the
species. (If the argument is that there is no change to the species, remember:
evolution takes time - you'll be dead.)
And, if the measurement of advancement here is supposed to be based on technology, biologically that's non-sensical. Anthropologically, perhaps. But, not biologically.
Lastly, Evolution= ~involution. Involution= loss of traits. Anti-Evolution= ~(~loss of traits). Anti-evolution= loss of traits. Have we lost traits? And even if we did lose traits, would that imply a "backwards" direction? We're losing our molars and our appendix at the moment (As you read!), is that anti-evolution, or evolution?
I'll stick with evolution.