Goal-Oriented Evolution: Difference between revisions

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A common subtrope of [[Hollywood Evolution]] that commonly shows up along with [[Evolutionary Levels]], evolution is depicted as, or believed by a character to be, being directed toward a goal, most commonly [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|ascension]] or superpowered or [[Human Alien|humanoid]], rather than toward whatever is best adapted to the environment. Generally, things being described as "more evolved" is a very good indicator this trope is present.

In most cases, humanoids and/or some other form of sapient creature is considered to be the goal if superpowers or energy beings aren't part of [[The Verse]] the trope is occurring in. In many cases, the creature is described as being in specific [[Evolutionary Levels|stages or levels]] of evolution.

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== Comics ==

* [[Marvel Comics]]:

** ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X Men]]'': Many characters (particularly the villains) believe that mutants are the next stage of humanity or its successor. In fact, it appears mutants, humans, Inhumans, and other species were experiments towards some vague goal set up by the Celestials.

** '''[[Planet Eater|Galactus]]''' is, [[Depending on the Writer|sometimes]], said to target worlds at the "apex of their evolution" to devour. For evolution to have an "apex", it has to have a goal.

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** ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'': The episode "Dear Doctor" showcased the "path evolution is supposed to take" misconception. This was Captain Archer's justification for refusing to ''cure a plague'' he had a cure for (he believed the civilization suffering from it was "supposed" to die out to make way for another species) leading some like [[SF Debris]] to accuse him of genocide.

* ''[[Doctor Who]]'':

** In [[Doctor Who/Recap/S1 E2 The Daleks|the first Dalek story]], the Thals had mutated into something hideous, then back again into good-looking space elves in leather trousers because that was, supposedly, the most perfect form.

** In [[Doctor Who/Recap/S1/E02 The Daleks|the first Dalek story]], the Thals had mutated into something hideous, then back again into good-looking space elves in leather trousers because that was, supposedly, the most perfect form.

** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S12 E4 Genesis of the Daleks|Genesis of the Daleks]]", Davros worked out what the Kaled race ''was going to evolve into'' as a result of the centuries-long ABC war they'd been having with the Thals. (Apparently it was a green blob that would require a motorised dustbin if it was going to get around.)

** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S12/E04 Genesis of the Daleks|Genesis of the Daleks]]", Davros worked out what the Kaled race ''was going to evolve into'' as a result of the centuries-long ABC war they'd been having with the Thals. (Apparently it was a green blob that would require a motorised dustbin if it was going to get around.)

** "[[Doctor Who~~/NS~~/Recap/S3 E6 The Lazarus Experiment|The Lazarus Experiment]]" had the bad guy of the week use a molecule-rearranging room to de-age himself... with the side-effect that he would occasionally turn into a hulking beast that had to suck the life essence out of other people. The Doctor explains it by saying the genetic rearrangement had accidentally activated genes from evolutionary paths humans passed by and never used. Of course, given the Doctor's [[Timey-Wimey Ball|way of explaining things]], this is likely just the best he can do to explain a much more convoluted concept.

** "[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E06 The Lazarus Experiment|The Lazarus Experiment]]" had the bad guy of the week use a molecule-rearranging room to de-age himself... with the side-effect that he would occasionally turn into a hulking beast that had to suck the life essence out of other people. The Doctor explains it by saying the genetic rearrangement had accidentally activated genes from evolutionary paths humans passed by and never used. Of course, given the Doctor's [[Timey-Wimey Ball|way of explaining things]], this is likely just the best he can do to explain a much more convoluted concept.

* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'': All sentient species apparently evolve "towards" ascension. Just before evolutionary ascension, people will have all kinds of [[Psychic Powers]], such as mind-reading, telepathy, healing powers and some kind of super-intelligence.

* ''[[Space: 1999]]'': The show features one of the oddest theories of evolution: ''everyone'' is evolving, and will eventually become perfect (apparently ignoring that pesky old mortality). Even worse, there is a mirror universe where evolution works backwards, and people gradually turn into piles of primordial soup, and traveling to this dimension will cause you to start evolving backwards as well.

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* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'': {{spoiler|Alfimi}} was created to be the "apex of human evolution".

* ''[[Star Ocean: The Last Hope]]'': The [[Big Bad]] seems to think that it's possible to create a "better" evolution that will save humanity from violence and sadness. Even worse, the heroes believe that it's necessary to "make our hearts worthy" in order to evolve.

* ''[[Fire Emblem]]'': It's theorized the Zunanma were subconsciously evolving to be more like their "gods". The gods thought this was bad but the only solutions they could think of were abandonment or annihilation and Zunanma didn't like either.

* ''[[Wild Arms 3]]'': The Prophets describe five stages of evolution; they hope to evolve the world into its final stage. Even the characters who call out this notion as BS believe the dragons lived at their "evolutionary apex" before dying out. {{spoiler|The former statement is justified oddly in that the Prophets were under the coercion of the ego-maniacal Demons.}}

* ''[[Marathon Trilogy|Marathon]]'': [[Word of God]] has said that this is the inspiration for [[AI Is a Crapshoot|Rampancy]] in [[The Verse]]. The concept that all life, and all evolution, strives upward towards [[Deus Est Machina|Godhood]].

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== Real Life ==

* Averted. As far as the experts can tell, the "purpose" of evolution is to adapt the organism to its surroundings. And since the environment is ever-changing, the parameters of this goal change every so often, not having any real end to it. As to whether this (or for that matter, existence itself) could go on forever is a question best left to cosmology, metaphysics, or religion.

* According to Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Catholic priest, scientist and philosopher, all organic and inorganic evolution is driven by two drives, to differentiate and to unify, both of which lead to the ultimate unity with God.

* [[Transhumanism]] recognizes the non-directed nature of evolution, and attempts to take things into our own hands.

* Selective breeding or animal husbandry. Human attempts at breeding 'better' animals is pretty much the same, but replace 'natural selection' with 'artificial selection'. After all, what better way to promote the survival of your own species by developing traits that one of the most successful species on the planet finds useful, and piggy-backing your own survival to theirs?