Poshdeluxe

i can’t seem to stop reading salon.

from a fantastic interview with sociobiology founder, edward o. wilson:

But this raises another question. I know evolutionary biologists
disagree on this point — whether there is some inevitable progress in
the course of evolution. In other words, once the simplest forms of
life appeared on Earth, was it inevitable that eons down the road, some
highly intelligent creature would evolve — like humans?

Yeah, philosophers love this question, and scientists like to stay
away from philosophers. To get involved is like a bird landing on
tangled foot. Let me see if I can square away the idea of progress. If
you define progress as an increase in complexity — say, going from a
simple bacterium-like organism up to an advanced animal or human
society — there’s no question that evolution has progressed. But if
you see it as some kind of teleological force that is moving evolution
along, that there will be progress in the universe from A to Z, you
cannot see that in evolution. Progress is basically a human concept.

On the other hand, if you subscribe to the evolutionary
viewpoint, but you also want to find some larger purpose, it would seem
to be comforting that evolution moves toward greater complexity. It
will keep evolving into something that’s bigger and greater.

Well, I’m an existential conservative. I take the view that the
human species has evolved to be a biological part of this biosphere. We
belong in this biosphere. We are intimately connected to it. Our
physiology, our psychology. This planet can actually be a paradise if
we use our intelligence to make it so. That, to me, would be progress.

and

I guess I’m asking a slightly different question of you
personally. Would you like there to be evidence of God? Forget about
this as a great scientific discovery. Just personally, given your
background, would that be thrilling? Would that be comforting?

Well, it would certainly give you a lot of material to study and
think about the rest of your time. But you didn’t ask me the right
question.

What’s the right question?

Would I be happy if I discovered that I could go to heaven forever?
And the answer is no. Consider this argument. Think about what is
forever. And think about the fact that the human mind, the entire human
being, is built to last a certain period of time. Our programmed
hormonal systems, the way we learn, the way we settle upon beliefs, and
the way we love are all temporary. Because we go through a life’s
cycle. Now, if we were to be plucked out at the age of 12 or 56 or
whenever, and taken up and told, now you will continue your existence
as you are. We’re not going to blot out your memories. We’re not going
to diminish your desires. You will exist in a state of bliss –
whatever that is — forever. And those who didn’t make it are going to
be consigned to darkness or hell. Now think, a trillion times a
trillion years. Enough time for universes like this one to be born,
explode, form countless star systems and planets, then fade away to
entropy. You will sit there watching this happen millions and millions
of times and that will just be the beginning of the eternity that
you’ve been consigned to bliss in this existence.

This heaven would be your hell.

Yes. If we were able to evolve into something else, then maybe not. But we are not something else.