by The Dharma Bum » Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:04 am
I was just thinking about what we know about the process that causes a particular morphology to develop.
Several examples of parallel evolution are documented. I think this may mean the humaniform morphology may an inevitable development of matter as the physical forces utilize their properties as a natural process to degrade energy differentials. Space, matter and energy "seek" a state of equilibrium. Life is seeming the opposite of equilibrium, but we now understand that ecology is actually process wherein the effect of the physical forces is reacting to matter, energy, and space and moving toward the state of equilibrium. Life is basically a chemical process that actually serves to find and remove stored energy in matter.
That old sci-fi cliche everyone laughs about that portrays earth-humans populating the universe may not be so far fetched after all, when these factors are considered. It may simply be a common morphological mode, similar to how crystallization process probably happens every where the right conditions and materials exist for the reaction to be initiated.
Perhaps what we view as unique features of the human species arise everywhere the the conditions require it. Epigenetics influence morphology, but clearly there are a lot of other forces at work there too. This is why the examples of parallel evolution that we know about happened. Completely unrelated genome can certainly produce nearly identical morphology and ecological role.
I think it would freak me out to meet a human being that wasn't actually...human, but just something very similar. lol