The Techno-Memetic Evolution of the Biosphere

In the biosphere species live in a harmonious conflict. This harmonious conflict constitutes that dance of nature we call evolution. With the evolution of biological species comes the evolution of the biosphere. All species alter their environment, and hence the biosphere, whenever they evolve. As species are continually evolving so also evolves the complex interrelations among all species on earth. As some species evolve – causing the biospherical balance to shift – other species are challenged to evolve as well because of that environmental change – which in turn challenges yet more species to evolve or die – and so forth..

This continual cycle of evolution finally gives birth to a species which can alter the environment to suit its needs rather than rely only on genetic evolution. This species is, of course, Man – the technological animal.

This type of evolution, which is a technological evolution, has been called memetic evolution. Memetic evolution is the evolution of the information which instructs the organization of humankind to be able to alter its environment as a means of survival in an evermore efficient manner.

This techno-memetic evolution has allowed humans to migrate to, and live in, almost every climb and place on earth and to reach population levels far beyond the carrying capacity of a pre-technology biosphere. The rate at which the biosphere evolves has been growing exponentially since its formation. With the arrival of the technological animal who has inhabited every region of the biosphere, the rate of change within the biosphere has accelerated to a furious speed. Until recently humankind was not aware of the biosphere but was only aware of the effects of regional ecology. The awareness of humanity's dependence on the biosphere has come at the same time that humanity has become aware that techno-memetic evolution is changing the biosphere in ways that could be catastrophic to human existence.

It is the nature of techno-memetic evolution to continually optimize the organization of human activity toward an ever greater ability to alter the environment to enhance human survival. For this reason the logical goal of human-machine civilization must be to optimize the entire biosphere for human benefit through world-changing engineering and technology.

This project calls for nothing less than the unification of all science. Physics and chemistry must further inform our understanding of biological systems and the science of evolutionary biology must further inform our understanding of anthropology and sociology. The result of this unification will be a mature science of ecology which will inform the organization of human activity on this planet. The ecological optimization of human techno-economic activity must be the collective goal of the human species.