Evolution is a fact. As in all life and science, there are rough spots and yet-to-be-understood aspects, but the evidence for evolution is overwhelming at all levels.

If you're in the small percentage of the human populace attempting to ban the teaching of evolution and create an environment hostile to rational thought, I refer you to the recantation of Galileo Galilei in 1633. Galileo was forced by the Church to renounce his writings claiming our Earth revolved around the Sun. Galileo's forced denial of heliocentrism factually changed absolutely nothing. Sol still anchors our planetary system and we continue circling it on our blue world.

In our near future, evolution is likely to make its presence known in unavoidable fashion. Doug Miller and I recently exchanged posts about Sweden's social and technological push to become oil-free by 2020, and shortly before this exchange Doug made an excellent post titled Meritocracy & Uselessness:

I am a beneficiary (today) of the meritocracy. My success is entirely founded on my ability to learn and apply new skills at a ferocious rate — a rate so fast, in fact, that I really can say that I have forgotten more about any number of subjects than most people know. ...At the same time, I suspect the day is coming when, due to age, I start to slow down. When I can’t learn as fast, and when it’s cheaper to hire someone younger and faster and sharper than continue to pay me. I’ve seen the under- and unemployed Baby Boomers — and I know how easy it would be to join their ranks.

Doug's thoughts above weave the common thread: evolution operates on more than the physical. We generally conceptualize evolution as descent along the branches of a relationship tree. I think the term ascent is truly the proper descriptive framework. Any idea, action, or process which can confer an advantage or disadvantage to continued existence is part of the game. Advantages over others are selected for and propagate. Disadvantages are selected against and are out-reproduced.

In this science fiction novel we're all living inside of, the technological remaking of humanity is proceeding at an ever-increasing pace. Ideas and the ability to give them life as action are the world's currency. In the physical arena, we're up against a hothouse of pandemics, global warming, energy depletion and all the problems of overpopulation.

Evolving in an environment like this, what would beneficial traits be?

- an understanding of crisis: we cannot wait to be saved
- access to vast pools of accumulated human knowledge
- mental fluidity and the ability to use this knowledge
- strategic cooperation and planning with others

As we climb the slope of The Singularity, as we rocket into infinite ascent, as the forces of everything come to bear upon each other in increasing tension, evolution kicks into progressively higher gear. Those who cannot work with the very stuff of which we are made and make, the thoughts and words which allow us to move forward and stay intact... will be selected against.

In a world trading in ideas, those who cannot think will find themselves without coin of the realm.