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The stages of evolution seem to be as follows:
- From continuity to discreteness
- From stillness to animation
- From reaction to analytical thinking
- From analytical thinking to critical thinking (intelligence).
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FROM CONTINUITY TO DISCRETENESS
Both continuity and discreteness come into picture with disturbance. The discreteness grows as follows:
- The frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum
- The resonances of the electronic structure
- The particles of the atomic structure
At first, we see continuity manifested more at low frequencies, whereas, discreteness is manifested more at higher frequencies. The next level of discreteness is manifested as resonances among frequencies. This is the area of Quantum Mechanics. The ultimate level of discreteness is manifested as particles, with the atoms.
There is a spectrum of discreteness from frequencies to resonances to particles visible in the atoms. The nucleus of an atom is particle-like; and the electronic structure is resonance-like. The atomic structure then extends beyond in a frequency-like manner.
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FROM STILLNESS TO ANIMATION
Atoms as particles combine and grow in complexity of forms. We have rocks, metals, minerals, etc. All these material forms do not have the ability of self-animation. Therefore, we do not consider them to have life. A piece of rock just sits there totally still and lifeless.
Self-animation seems to enter at the level of RNA and DNA molecules. These molecules are large and they have enough number of electrons in their orbitals to carry out the functions of electronic circuits. So, these molecules are programmable, and they are programmed by nature. These molecules are, therefore, self-animated. This self-animation of forms is what we call life.
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FROM REACTION TO ANALYTICAL THINKING
The life enters into the picture and becomes more and more complex – first as plant life, then animal life, and finally human life. At first, the animation is purely in the form of reaction. By reaction is meant, that there is only one option in how to respond to some stimuli. Gradually, analytical thinking starts to enter the picture. Here we have more than one option on how to respond to some stimuli.
When we see the organisms of the same specie responding differently to the same stimuli, then we know that some analytical thinking going on there. There is greater analytical thinking at the level of highly evolved animal life.
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FROM ANALYTICAL THINKING TO CRITICAL (INTELLIGENT) THINKING
Analytical thinking, at its highest stage, evolves into critical thinking (intelligence). This occurs at the level of humans. Intelligence is the ability to recognize differences, similarities and identities, and to take a decision based on one’s observation of things as they are. This is the highest evolution we have gotten to so far.
However, the reactive mode is still retained in humans. The critical thinking mode often descends into analytical and reactive modes under stress. It remains in the lower modes when the person is stressed. To evolve further, we need to fully understand the critical, analytical and reactive modes.
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CONCLUSION
An objective philosophy must focus broadly on the whole process of evolution and not just on Man. It should now consider the next step of evolution beyond Man.
Awareness develops into consciousness along the steps outlined above. Any “free will” shall exist only within the perimeter of the laws of evolution.
Life, as we know it, first emerges with RNA and DNA molecules that can act as self-animated molecular computers because of their advance electronic structure. Life is a manifestation of something more fundamental.
That something more fundamental is the Law of Alignment (consistency, harmony and continuity).
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