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by Walter S. Foster (Author)
If we think about our species compared to all other species there is clearly no comparison. In the past 8,000 years we have increased in number from 8 million (8,000,000) to over 8 billion (8,000,0000,000) an increase of 1,000 times. During the same period, our life expectancy has tripled form 25 years to over 75 years. From space our alterations to our environment to improve our lifestyle are infinitely greater than the alterations to our environment of any other species. While it is in our nature to always complain about our inefficiencies, it is important to remember that our species has learned to prosper despite plagues, world wars, epidemics, climate changes, pestilence, etc., etc., etc. After such a successful history how can we not overcome the remaining minor shortcomings that we face today.
Because of this genetic imperative to survive the purpose of all activity is progressive understood activity i.e., activity designed "to leave the world a better place.' The struggle for individual survival through genetic activity in animals, has been largely replaced by the struggle for collective survival though understood activity in humans. The purpose of understood activity is to make the world a better place. Therefore, while the fundamental force shaping animal survival is the natural selection of successful genes, the fundamental force shaping human survival is the historical selection of functional knowledge - the fact, skills, objects and behavior that increase the dominance of our species.
