Taking the Reins

Are humans the end of natural evolution?

Humans are on a track to destroy themselves. Conversely, humanity is also on a track to improve their lives greatly. Humans have been using technology for a long time. Using technology, humans have greatly improved the human condition. As such, it seems like humanity is taking the reins of their own evolution. Can we still say that nature is controlling our evolution? I would say yes, I simply think it is a new kind of nature. Remembering that the universe is determined, we know that we can never escape nature. Additionally, we are within nature, as such, we need nature to improve ourselves; the materials to do so come from nature. I would, however, venture to say that humans have evolved enough to break free of the unguided, by-chance, evolution and have instead taken up a self-directed natural evolution.

The technology required to do so will certain create problems in that, as we discussed in class, humans have the potential to survive and the potential to destroy themselves.