According
to evolutionary theory, species descend with modification due to natural
selection acting on inheritable variation, and this genetic change suffices to
breed new species from old. This process applies to all living things,
including human beings.
One
consequence of this is that there must be a Missing Link – that is, a hominin
species linking ape to man. The Missing Link’s ancestors are apes, its
descendants are human. What must such an animal be like?
I
propose that humanity’s ancestors must have evolved the lower aspects of true
humanity before the higher. The missing link would be partially human, in the
more deeply rooted parts; but it would be deficient in the higher, more
advanced characteristics of true humanity.
I
propose, for instance, that the missing link would possess the technical and
analytic powers of a truly human being; but that it would abuse those powers,
for lack of foresight and intuition. Missing links would treat friends, family
and acquaintances with compassion and wisdom, and would save its cruelty and
folly for all outside the immediate circle. It would create customs to
compensate for these deficiencies; these memes will almost suffice, but they
can get lost in a generation.
A
missing link is a species in transition; selective pressures are strong and
constant, and fuelled by the animal’s mismatch between instinct and
environment. Though genetically adapted to small-group living, missing links
will form vast colonies, rife with dysfunction. The creature will suffer from
persistent destructive warfare, recurring despite uselessness obvious to the
missing links themselves.
Missing
links suffer selection pressure towards true humanity; an experience unknowable
to their apelike ancestors and to their truly human descendants. A beast would
commit crimes against its own kind, but not regret those crimes afterwards; and
a true human would not commit those crimes at all, and again not suffer pangs
of conscience; but a missing link would do the crime, and then regret.
Only a missing link
would decry its own kind’s inhumanity to itself; and then right away affirm its
kind’s humanity, despite having just offered evidence to the contrary. For the
missing link would take it as a point of pride that it is already human; that
pride itself being part of its remaining beastliness.
Missing
links can call themselves humans while acting like beasts; and call themselves
beasts while acting like humans. Missing links would persecute those more human
amongst themselves; then worship their victims after their victims are dead.
They would obey those more beastly amongst themselves while they live; but
afterwards defy them.
I
think it should be obvious by now that I am referring to ourselves. Look in the
mirror to see the Missing Link.
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