This book argues that evolution is happening all around us. It is the best way of understanding how the human world changes, as well as the natural world. Change in human institutions, artefacts and habits is incremental, inexorable and inevitable. It follows a narrative, going from one stage to the next; it creeps rather than jumps; it has its own spontaneous momentum
The concept that evolution pervades not only the natural world but also human societies and institutions offers a compelling perspective on the continuous and often subtle nature of change. Recognizing that change is incremental, inexorable, and inevitable challenges the notion of sudden upheavals or revolutionary shifts as the primary drivers of progress. Instead, it emphasizes that societal developments—whether in culture, technology, or institutions—emerge gradually through a series of small, often unnoticed steps. This perspective helps us appreciate the complex and spontaneous momentum that shapes our world. It underscores the importance of patience and attentiveness to minor changes, which collectively lead to significant transformations over time. Understanding evolution as a pervasive and ongoing process broadens our approach to problem-solving and innovation, urging us to see change as a natural part of life's fabric rather than an anomaly. Such insights encourage a more adaptive mindset, fostering resilience and openness to ideas that may seem incremental initially but can ultimately revolutionize our societies. Appreciating this evolutionary process also fosters humility—a realization that human endeavors are part of a larger, ongoing story of gradual adaptation. This viewpoint aligns with the broader understanding that changes, no matter how small or slow, accumulate and eventually lead to significant advancements, echoing the inevitability of natural and societal evolution as fundamental aspects of existence.
