The Future of Life: Meta-Evolution: A Unified Theory of Evolution

The Future of Life: Meta-Evolution represents the first comprehensive formulation of the hypothesis that evolution is the unifying force underlying the dynamics of all processes in the universe, both organic and inorganic. These include all facets of human existence and civilisation- the sciences, technology, arts, humanities and religion. In essence, by applying quantum information, network and decision theory, it is demonstrated that an overarching evolutionary process shapes the spectrum of life and phenomena in the universe, as a generic paradigm beyond Darwin's original biology-based theory. The Theory of Evolution is undoubtedly the most powerful paradigm ever conceived by humans to explain their own existence. Since Darwins epoch-making treatise, 'Origin of Species', published in 1859, evolution has been centre-stage, universally recognised as the driving force in the emergence of modern humans from the genesis of life on this planet almost 4 billion years ago. However, despite its ubiquitous brilliance as the jewel in the crown of human intellectual achievement, the notion of evolution has never been developed to its full potential. It remains instead constrained within its biological cradle, often reduced in everyday connotation to its lowest common denominator of survival of the fittest. The intention of this book to re-evaluate and expand the Darwinian model of evolution; to demonstrate that its current application is only the tip of the intellectual iceberg and that by combining its formidable biological principles with those of decision complexity, network, quantum and information theory, it emerges as an incalculably deeper and richer model than previously contemplated. Itwill be demonstrated that the evolutionary engine which drives biological development, also drives all other dynamic adaptive processes- the physical, social, cognitive, economic, political and technological and is in fact the major dynamic governing the Universe, past present and future. It is further proposed to demonstrate that recent developments in artificial intelligence and ubiquitous computing through the Internet, mark the next crucial stage in life's evolution, involving the inevitable symbiosis of vast computational intelligence with the human mind. The major hypothesis developed in this book, of a global all-encompassing Theory of Evolution, coupled with its potential for realising the emancipation of human intelligence and potential, provides a vastly more powerful paradigm for exploring the Future of Life than current scientific scenarios. The resulting Omega state of infinite knowledge and wisdom which is proposed, has been actively championed by a number of eminent 19th and 20th century philosophers such as Teillhard de Chardin, Henri Bergson, Schelling, Alfred Whitehead, Samuel Alexander and more recently by the leading physicist and futurist- Professor Frank Tipler. However to date no equivalent scientific framework for supporting such a hypothesis has been provided. In conclusion, The Future of Life: Meta-Evolution has been written not as an academic text but as primarily a non-technical review of the evidence to support such a hypothesis, in much the same vein as other recent publications in the popular science/philosophy genre. It is hoped that this approach will therefore provide a window into the wider evolutionary debate for the general reader interested in oneof the most critical emerging paradigm shifts of the 21st century.