Skip to main content
Log in

Human evolution — Where from here?

  • Published:
RENDICONTI LINCEI Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thanks to language, mankind is rapidly developing into a eusocial1 animal, within a single world-wide structure. Biological evolution based on random genetic events is no longer a part of the future of the species, and cultural evolution has taken its place. Ease of communication between minds means that distinction between individuals is becoming irrelevant. Future progress in the single world-wide community to which mankind is rapidly developing will rather be a self-guided process — evolution by self-design.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dawkins R (1976) The selfish gene. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 224

    Google Scholar 

  2. de Waal F (2005) Our inner ape. The best andworst of human nature. Grants Books, London, pp. 272

    Google Scholar 

  3. Huxley A (1932) Brave new world. Chatto & Windus, London, pp. 213

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lewin R, Foley RA (2004). Principles of human evolution. 2nd Edition. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 555

    Google Scholar 

  5. Orwell G (1949) Nineteen eighty-four. Secker & Warburg, New York, pp. 240

    Google Scholar 

  6. Seppänen J-T, Forssman JT, Mönkkönen M, Thomson RL (2007). Social information use is a process across time, space, and ecology, reaching heterospecifics, Ecology 88: 1622–1633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wilson, EO (1971) The insect societies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, p. 548

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goodall, D.W. Human evolution — Where from here?. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 19, 359–381 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-008-0024-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-008-0024-6

Keywords

Subject codes

Navigation