The Wrist of Roger
Federer, Left Foot of Lionel Messi & Evolution of Darwin
The followers of Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution are
increasing by the day. The theory of evolution coupled with that of natural
selection is slowly spreading its reach beyond evolution of species – people
are finding its applicability in financial markets, technological
breakthroughs, sports – to name just a few. The fittest and smartest only
survive in this ruthless world and the Global Capitalist Order is just another
name for Darwin’s coveted theory applied to economics. Thus, while rule of the
jungle ensures that a lame lion will not get the chance to prolong its defective
lineage similarly market economics ensures that business activities based on flawed
economic logic (read subsidy and development of poor) will perish in the long
run. There is no use being overly sentimental on this – ultimately it will
ensure a stronger world inhabited by better species of lion and organisations
respectively.
Gene theory also suggests that the traits that do not contribute towards
survival of species would gradually wither away while the ones that do will
become stronger with continual reinforcement. This will ensure fitter species
that are better adapted to the environment in the long run.
While logically the above argument seems appealing, one faces dilemma in
trying to explain some of the traits that are exclusive to human beings. Like altruistic
tendencies. Like aesthetic sense. Here the interesting thing is these
tendencies are expected to be higher in human beings who are considered to
the fittest – educated and financially well off people. So, how these
tendencies contribute towards our survival?
There are no easy answers. While saving ones children at the cost of
one’s own personal safety do ensure continuation of one’s lineage, why do we
often have similar feelings towards other human beings or even other living
beings? More difficult is to account for our love for sunset or music.
In sports, for example, with improvement in scientific coaching
techniques, champions are created more in the gyms and clinics than in track or
field. Deep within we know that in football mechanical efficiency of Germany
will prevail in the long run over individualistic skill based game of Latin
American countries. Or likelihood of players like Roger Federer whose amazing
wristwork with tennis racket looks like pure sorcery winning against likes of
Novac Djocovik who are product of sports technology. Still more often than not
we root for Messi’s divine left foot to run through the solid German defence
(alas, it did not happen last in last world cup) or Federer’s wristwork to do
the trick against robots like Novac or Nadal. Why this inclination towards
something which is non utilitarian and eventually not likely to succeed?
My limited reading has not provided any satisfactory answer to these
questions. One possible explanation is that these traits have been accidentally
acquired by human beings and will be discarded by us soon enough since clearly
they do not add to our chances of survival.
God forbid that this is the case! Better, let us accept the possibility
that Darwinism has its limitations and human beings can raise themselves above
petty self interest and will display more and more non functional traits like love
for beauty and fiction, capacity to sacrifice for others and ability to laugh
at our own folly. Only then we can say with confidence that evolution in true
sense is taking place.
