ABSTRACT
Evolution shows a tendency to accelerate, particularly before the emergence of a new evolutionary level. When certain levels of complexity are reached, new levels of evolution emerge, with qualities entirely different from what has come before. Thus physical matter emerged from energy, life emerged from matter, and self-reflective consciousness emerged from life. Many of humanity’s achievements represent evolutionary developments as significant as the earlier invention of photosynthesis or sexual reproduction. Yet from an evolutionary perspective crises can be the impetus to new levels of order and organisation–if, that is, the system can make the necessary adaptions to survive the crises. Clearly more is needed than humanity linking up to form an integrated global nervous system. It is apparent that despite this increased communication, the problems are far from disappearing. The rapid development of the global communications network suggests that humanity is fast approaching a similar degree of connectivity as that found in the brain.
