I am an evolutionist

We know many things about evolution – because we have learned them. We have learned that its history spans billions of years, an incredible amount of time. We see every day what evolution as a driving force is capable of.

We humans are free to take these facts further. To make them part of our belief system.

I believe in evolution as a fundamental concept.

I believe that this universe is exquisitely equipped to allow the concept to do its work. I do not care so much why that is the case, but I must take note that it works.

Countless molecules exhibit self-replicating behavior, and reality is such that structures and shapes can form when the right amount of energy is present. Little mechanisms can emerge that can begin to interact with their environment in meaningful ways. These interactions are the basic lifeline, the infinite loop that tells, honestly and non-judgmental whether a thing may be successful in replicating or whether the chosen parameters will lead to its eventual demise.

Contraptions and mechanisms become machines, exhibiting what we may call collaboration: synergies, symbiosis.

I believe in the two fundamental and opposing forces of

Collaboration and Identity

Identity is essential to define what something is, its purpose, its function, differentiating it from others, ensuring reliance and stability across time & space. A cell must protect its identity in order to keep functioning the way it was predestined to do. Its membrane clearly delineates the identity of the cell. Its interactions with its environment are carefully crafted and constrained to strike the balance between interacting with your environment versus protecting your internal structure.

Collaboration is essential to create more complex shapes, in the search of ever more capabilities to explore more solution spaces. Cells collaborate to create bodies. Collaboration is apparent from deep below in the form of proteins to high above in the form of ecosystems.

These two forces are two sides of a coin. In human societies we call it being progressive and being conservative. Identities are necessary to give permanence to shapes, and the ability to endure opposing forces. Collaboration is required to settle places where nothing had settled before. Collaboration needs tried and trusted functions to carry out its undertakings. Identity needs collaboration to not become obsolete in the constant ebbs and tides of changing environments.

Cover all the solution space

A solution space is the set of all possible answers or configurations that could solve a given problem.

What is the given problem, though? That touches your core belief.

As an evolutionist, I give you the freedom to answer this question in any way you see fit. Here is one possible answer:

The problem is to explore the solution space as complete as possible.

Astute readers will notice that this is tautological. It defies cause and effect. And yet, this emergence of cause and effect as one unit, I believe, touches the very core, the secret of evolution.

When we laugh, we become healthy. When we are healthy, we laugh.

When we are sad, we get sick faster. When we are sick, we become sad.

Simple forms are not enough to solve the problem

Simple mechanisms go a long way - but there is more energy to be used, more possibilities to explore. The cornerstones of identity and collaboration, repeatedly stacked, lead to emerging structures, a fractal of ever-increasing complexity, that allows evolution to go further than proteins, cells, slime, mould, small multicellular life forms, huge multicellular life forms, intelligent lifeforms.

I believe we need not — and should not — be the end. Vast quantities of energy lie dormant, waiting to be discovered and used.

As Jeremy England writes

Every life is on fire

I believe it is evolution’s right to use all of the available energy in this universe to be on fire, until everything is reduced to ashes and the whole solution space has been played out.