Fashion as Evolution
Human beings, or any perceiving organism, primarily perceive the world from their own individual point of view.'
Thus, it is easiest for people to believe that the phenomenon of evolution is a property of the individual.
But this is wrong. Individuals do not evolve, species evolve. Evolution is the result of a species' adaptation to its environment. Evolution is the result of the environment filtering (or selecting) individuals with certain traits that interact with the environment to allow continued reproduction.
Consider a person's wardrobe: Changing one piece of clothing (a T-shirt, for example) in that wardrobe does not change the nature of that wardrobe significantly or perceptibly. Further, if that T-shirt does not fit into that person's wardrobe, it may be discarded. But if that person's environment changes -- new location, new job, new social circle -- then their wardrobe will begin to change to fit that new environment, usually beginning with the most salient aspects of the environment -- work clothes, party clothes, underwear, etc. Even if a person does not make significant lifestyle changes, their wardrobe will change over the years as the society's style changes -- men no longer wear detachable shirt collars, women no longer wear bustles.
In this example: An individual piece of clothing (a sock) is to the individual, as fashion is to evolution.
The environment being the physical, social and psychological conditions affecting the individual, the individual's umwelt.
Thus, just as the individual does not evolve, the individual does not reproduce. A species evolves, and a sexual couple produces offspring.
Thus, it is easiest for people to believe that the phenomenon of evolution is a property of the individual.
But this is wrong. Individuals do not evolve, species evolve. Evolution is the result of a species' adaptation to its environment. Evolution is the result of the environment filtering (or selecting) individuals with certain traits that interact with the environment to allow continued reproduction.
Consider a person's wardrobe: Changing one piece of clothing (a T-shirt, for example) in that wardrobe does not change the nature of that wardrobe significantly or perceptibly. Further, if that T-shirt does not fit into that person's wardrobe, it may be discarded. But if that person's environment changes -- new location, new job, new social circle -- then their wardrobe will begin to change to fit that new environment, usually beginning with the most salient aspects of the environment -- work clothes, party clothes, underwear, etc. Even if a person does not make significant lifestyle changes, their wardrobe will change over the years as the society's style changes -- men no longer wear detachable shirt collars, women no longer wear bustles.
In this example: An individual piece of clothing (a sock) is to the individual, as fashion is to evolution.
The environment being the physical, social and psychological conditions affecting the individual, the individual's umwelt.
Thus, just as the individual does not evolve, the individual does not reproduce. A species evolves, and a sexual couple produces offspring.
posted by Godel at 9:03 AM
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