Evolutionary Quanta
The following is the classical sequence of metasystem transitions in the history of animal evolution according to Turchin, from the origin of animate life to sapient culture:
- Control of Position = Motion: the animal or agent develops the ability to control its position in space
- Control of Motion = Irritability: the movement of the agent is no longer given, but a reaction to elementary sensations or stimuli
- Control of Irritability = Reflex: different elementary sensations and their resulting actions are integrated into a coordinated, but still rigid, reflex-like behavior
- Control of Reflex = Association: behavioral routines become flexible or adaptive, through the learning of new associations between experienced stimuli and actions
- Control of Association = Thought: new routines no longer need to be learned through experience; they can be developed by abstract, symbolic reasoning
- Control of Thought = Culture: symbols and concepts are no longer fixed entities; they adapt through a process of cultural evolution
Read more about this topic: Metasystem Transition
Famous quotes containing the word evolutionary:
“The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.”
—Stanley Weiser, U.S. screenwriter, and Oliver Stone. Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas)