Family of the Heart Seminar - Feb. 13, 2005

EVOLUTION - THE INEVITABLE PHENOMENA

By Ziauddin Ahmed, Mississauga, ON.

Ziauddin Ahmed

Evolution is a phenomenon of modification which can neither be avoided nor denied. There is, however, a difference between change and evolution. While change occurs with the passage of time on a smaller scale, evolution occurs with the passage of generations themselves.

Let us take an example to illustrate the idea of regulated and unregulated change.

Cancer is usually an uncontrolled cellular growth. Healthy metabolism on the other hand, is a controlled division and multiplication of cells into the next generation. This division takes into consideration and is subservient to the existence of the body the cells reside in. It is no less than a marvel of evolution that healthy cell division shows this prerequisite of existence. For, if cell division becomes uncontrolled and does not follow the principle of live and let live, both the cell and the host body would eventually be annihilated, as is seen in the case of cancer. Looking at it through another example -- a cancerous process is like an uncontrolled atomic reaction, much like a bomb, which is UN harnessed release of energy. Causing the destruction of both itself and its surroundings. Metabolic evolution, on the same scale, would then be comparable to a balanced and controlled nuclear reaction, as seen in the process of the generation of electric power.

Having got the gist of the idea let’s see some evolutionary processes and their effects on our lives. Keeping within the broad perimeters of the topic of the day, only some religious and scientific examples are being quoted, although evolution can be seen to occur in different forms in almost all fields of knowledge. Entire human development is the result of this constant change, and evolution is observable in every facet of life, be it thought, word or deed. The very evolution of this triad of life i.e. thought, word and deed constitutes the development of the individual and subsequently the   entire human race.

The Universe is in a constant flux and is gradually evolving. What started with the ‘big bang’ – an instantaneous change, perhaps — has evolved over billions of years and may eventually be proceeding towards the ‘big crunch’. The main conflict between religious thought and scientific study is the concept and propagation of finality. Religious preaching is based on the ‘word of God’, which is believed to be the ‘First and the Last’. Which can not be questioned and of which there is no tangible proof either. Science on the other hand demands that every theory or hypothesis be backed by logical, mathematical or experimental proof. However, seen closely, both religious and scientific ideas have themselves transformed or modified over the years in an evolutionary manner.  Scientific evolution by its very nature, as just explained, is clearly visible and documented -- hence more readily understood and accepted. The evolution of religious thought, on the other hand, is subtle and inherently more subjective to the mental psyche of the era. Both religious and scientific fields of knowledge are none the less, derivatives of, and influenced by each other. Whether they do so consciously and with a full understanding of the other’s position and contention, or unconsciously, as a subjective reaction to it, is however, debatable. To elaborate this statement let us take an example from history.

The early church contented that man is the centre of creation and hence must also be the centre of the universe -- around which all other creation should in theory be revolving. So, in the ‘Ptolemaic system’ the earth got placed in the centre and the sun and all other planets were thought to revolve around it.   This was disproved by Galileo’s experimental confirmation of the ‘Copernican theory’ of the Solar system. Human beings had to eventually accept the scientifically proven fact of a stationary sun with planets revolving around it, rather than the reverse, which was the established belief. The point to note here is that religion or its belief was not wrong at the time of the inception of the basic idea, but that all of human awareness and knowledge gradually evolved and took account of new facts as more scientific data became available to man.  The existing belief could not accommodate them, and the old theory could not fully explain them.  Something had to be done to understand and explain the new data.  So a more profound theory was born which was supported by logic and which could withstand and verify these new facts.   Copernican theory was thus far more acceptable to the age of reason, and with Galileo’s verification of it, had to be accepted sooner or later -- though not without pain and suffering for both the scientist and the proponents of Status quo.   A higher concept is one that is able to adequately explain the previously available facts along with the new data, either more comprehensively, or in a new light altogether. This acceptance itself establishes the evolution of all knowledge based systems, be they scientific, religious or any other.

Let us now see how scientific theories themselves tend to evolve with the advancement of knowledge. An epochal event in the field of science was Newton’s Laws of motion and gravity. They gave adequate explanations of the phenomena of nature till the emergence of Einstein’s theory of relativity, which changed the very idea of time and space itself.  The theory of relativity is but a more evolved concept that explains and confirms the laws of motion, yet at the same time comprehensively explains new facts about the behaviour of light, and the nature of space and time.

Let’s take another example of evolution, this time from religious thought. It is said in the Genesis and is repeated in the biblical accounts that – God created the heavens and the earth in ‘six days’ and on the ‘seventh day’, He rested. The Qu’ran mentions the same concept of creation,  but instead of days it mentions ‘spans’ of time. To quote verbatim it says.

It is God who created the heavens and the earth

       And all that lies between them,

       In six spans, then assumed all authority. (Al Qur’an 32:4)

The concept of spans of time seems more evolved than Days.  This is so because the mention of days restricts the thought to the common conception of a day, which is 24 hours. Spans, on the other hand brings to mind a period of time, not limited to 24 hours -- as some phenomena must surely have taken a relatively longer period than others to accomplish and sustain. The narration of the Qur’an seems more profound and evolved, and shows an evolution of the intellect itself.  Also, ‘ assumed all power’ is once again an indication of a more advanced concept than “ And on the seventh day God rested,”   for, surely the Deity is no earthling to be in need of rest due to depletion of energy after hard labour or the like. Further,   the mention of ‘and all that lies between them’, gives credence to the fact that it is not only the material things that were created but others too, the significance of  which may be understood in a different context altogether -- perhaps not conceivable   by most people then.  The idea of quoting the religious comparisons is not to show one inferior to the other, but only to point out the level of evolution of the human thought process itself, and that the very  understanding of concepts  evolve with the passage of time.

Evolution can be explained even better by the ‘holonistic theory’. According to which all things consist of holons.  These holons are complete entities and whole in them.  They can, however, evolve to the next higher stage of holonic level by including and transcending the previous previous ones. These new holons in turn become the building blocks for the next higher level, and so on.   E.g. atoms are holons as they are wholes in themselves. They are the building blocks for molecules, which once again are complete holons,  but a stage higher than atoms. Further evolution converts molecules to amino-acids, which may then go on to build cells and be parts of them. Etc.

Another example --   Alphabets, a, b, c …are holons. They can be used to make words e.g. cat, bat, rat, mat etc. etc., which are also holons but a level higher in the holarchy. Words can become sentences – another step higher in holarchy. Sentences go on to form paragraphs, which can make chapters; which eventually go to make a book. Now, each set of holons that evolve must contain the holons of the previous level. These new holons are different from the predecessors in as much as the previous ones have been integrated in them, and they have acquired something extra to establish a fresh identity of their own. They have in fact included and transcended the previous order and have acquired some more new properties.  The higher mode of holons however, cannot exist without containing the lower levels, but the lower ones can exist on their own even if the higher order is destroyed. The higher the holons grow in the holonic hierarchy or holarchy, the more autonomous they become as they tend to increase in essence. 

Let us see how this theory explains evolution – and, as we shall see in a minute it goes on to explore phenomena even beyond.    Matter, the physical manifestation of the Kosmos -- (this is different from the Cosmos, better explained in books on holonic theory.  Briefly, it is the cumulative manifestation of all creation -- matter, energy and even psychology of the Universe.), -- may be taken as the starting point for our understanding of the levels of holons.   A higher level of development, or further evolution of matter, would be the holon of life or bio-physics. ( In between these there are some sub levels, but they are being avoided for the sake of simplicity).   The new holon, the holon of life has developed over the holon of matter in as much as it incorporates the phenomena of replication and self-multiplication to the holons of matter. It would thus be a step higher in holarchy, as it is the next stage of the evolution of matter. The result is the manifestation of living organisms, i.e. plant and vegetation. A further stage of advancement of plant life would be the incorporation of mobility in the holon to reach the next higher stage of animals.   A further evolution and development of a species of animals to the next stage, is the holon of the mind. Here the holons of life have evolved to the level where it has acquired the ability to think for itself.  This is the stage of psychological interplay incorporated with the holons of the animal body.  Humans are the manifestation of this stage of evolution in the holarchy.   Let us stop here for a minute and see how far we have come.  It will be observed that for the holon of the mind to exist it needs to encompass yet transcend the holon of the animal, which in turn must have advanced over the holons of plant and they over that of matter.  And so, on and on it goes.  Now, continuing further along the holonic hierarchy we would reach the holon of the Soul; and finally perhaps the Spirit. The above is only an attempt to familiarize with the idea of holonic theory or holarchy. (The whole theory of holarchy is a complete subject on its own and should be studied in detail to acquire an in-depth knowledge). The beauty of the theory of holarchy lies in the fact that it goes on to show how the evolution of higher level  holons  enhance the very essence and nature of the holon itself. This means that where there is vertical growth there is also lateral advancement; meaning  that with progress along the scale  of ascent, comes  the increase in capability to perform  and finally  to acquire the ability to self-improve. This is a consequence of the fact that with the growth in knowledge comes the increase of understanding and awareness and the overall expanse of ‘self.’  Each individual has a capacity to grow – physically, mentally and spiritually. A balanced diet and regular exercise promote physical well being.  Reading, learning and mental exercise promote mental development. A healthy attitude in life promotes a desire to self-improve. If this is done in a balanced evolutionary manner, durable progress is achievable. To develop this healthy attitude  life requires a harmony in both the  physical and the  meta-physical domains of  personality. . As evolution progresses and reaches the stage of self- perpetuation,  it becomes self-participating and self-directing  as well.  For, if it is not so, the result would be self-destructing and self-diminishing. Now, the tendency of self-destruction  in an evolving system is a negative or detrimental trait, and does not serve the very logic of  its  existence.   Humans  are  also a part of this self - perpetuating system and are positioned at a very high level in the whole spectrum of evolution -- whereby  they have gained the capability of being conscious of the system itself. They may not fully  appreciate or understand the purpose of the system of which they are a part, yet they are aware of it and know that such a structure exists. They probe and search for its meaning in every thing around them. As said earlier they do this  by the use of their most important and uniquely private tool – the mind.  This mind however, like most things,  is a double-edged sword. It generates both positive and negative thoughts. It is both creative and destructive. It has the power to both accept or reject.  All this in turn, depends on the basis of the  thought itself and ones approach to the subject. If the basis or origination of thought or conscious analysis is   positivism and open mindedness, it will endow progress and bear constructive results. But if the idea takes birth in doubt and deceit it will promote negativity and resistance to progress. Let us take an example. The  splitting of a heavy atom (fission), or  joining two  small atoms (fusion), releases tremendous energy.  This release of power  can be utilised  either constructively,   e.g. to generate power, as said earlier; or destructively, e.g. to make a bomb – This depends   on the purpose in mind.  Interestingly enough, however, the process for electrical power generation is based on the principle of a  controlled and balanced nuclear reaction; whereas a bomb is uncontrolled release of energy.  This point to the fact that all progressive processes are usually harnessed balanced and controlled activities – or ‘evolutionary in outlook.’   Uncontrolled reactions can be catastrophic.     

All stable systems in nature have one thing in common -- they are all balanced and evolving.  A controlled evolutionary change is perhaps more enduring and longer lasting than a violent revolutionary one.   Observe both the macrocosm and the microcosm.  The solar system maintains its stability because it is balanced and evolving.  At the other end of the spectrum of the Cosmos, the classical atomic structure follows the same principle of balance and poise. The greater the dawn of awareness, the greater the attainment of balance and, the more the elevation of poise. Sages, Monks, Sadhus and perhaps Prophets are a set of people that demonstrate this. They seem to be that group of individuals who have harnessed the tumult of material desires and mental agitations and reached the balance of mind, body and soul in order to acquire the poise of serenity.  They are evolved souls who have reached the next level in holonic hierarchy. They would   surely be a holon level higher than common human beings.  Their next step would then be the holon of Universal Spirit -- where all souls would integrate and acquire the oneness with Nature itself, perhaps, the final stage of the great Holarchy.

The birth of an idea itself may be instantaneous or revolutionary in nature, but its establishment as a durable concept has to be nurtured and groomed by a process of slow and gradual evolution.   We thus infer that balance and evolution are not only the keys to a successful existence; they are also its basic principle. It is thus safe to conclude that evolution is the inherent nature of Nature. It is its very principle of existence and sustenance, and that the advancement in any field of knowledge is the result of it.