The Darwinism theory, Survival of the Fittest coined by Herbert Spencer is a quote that most People are familiar with. Since publishing his interpretation back in the 1800's, it's been commonly used today in various movies that don't always reflect the intent of its original meaning. I've often heard it said in conversation as well.
For instance, I had an experience that was a little alarming sitting in the surf line-up someone say to two other People, which is why I noticed. This particular beach break attracts Surfers from all over the World which is why I've enjoyed been surfing there for the past 8 years. It's like a cultural trip without leaving your backyard.
Waiting for a wave to catch, I heard him laughing as he mentioned "survival of the fittest" in his conversation. Not really trying to ear hustle, I was more concerned with the Ocean floor covered around us with dozens of large Stingrays chillin underneath us.
Seeing so many of them fluttering their wings moving around in the sand was kind of daunting, reminding me that we were just visitors in their home. So initially, I thought he was referring to the marine activity.
Then as I was paddling at different times to catch a few waves, he would do a weird hand gesture and whisper "Go" to the people he was with, which resulted in me backing out of the wave as I was popping up to ride it or being cut off when I was already on it. Even though I was to the right of them and closest to the peak, they seemed to ignore my presence.
After that, let's just say I decided to loosely practice surf etiquette until they noticed which gave me the opportunity to explain how the Aloha Spirit and Party wave rules work. If we were taking off at the same time (one Surfer goes right, the other goes left). At that point he stared at me, I stared at him. It's very disappointing to have those kinds of experiences when I am there to relax and have fun. Diversity and Inclusion matters.
Also with having a voluptuous figure not associated with the typical physical attributes of a surfer along with being a BIPOC woman, historically not seen regularly in watersports like surfing, I could understand why he assumed I wouldn't be aware of what was going on because their actions certainly revealed their intentions.
Looking from the angle at the context by which Darwin's half cousin, Francis Galton used it in his publishing's to perpetrate negative connotations that conceptualized him pioneering eugenics, you could understand my reaction. If you're familiar with that ideology, it implied that a certain groups of people were inherently unfit thru a scientific racist theory.
The Disadvantages of Darwinism
The original meaning survival of the fittest is a term used to describe an evolutionary process of natural selection, which is based on the ability of an organism to adapt to its environment and thrive. It made perfect sense to me thinking about how the stingrays were co-existing with us. However, I'm also sure he didn't understand that the main disadvantage of Darwinism is that it does not take into account any kind of Divine intervention in the process of evolution.
I remember another time I was in the Ocean at a non-local spot where as I was paddling out, the whole line-up turned to stare at me. The blank looks on their faces gave me an unwelcoming vibe but I was paying more attention to making it past the impact zone as this huge swell surge came up and wiped out the entire line-up of surfers except me because I made it over on the other side of it in time. It was a very dramatic sight. True Story.
Had they been focused on their safety being in the Ocean first, applying their natural instincts to the environment they were in, they could've saved themselves from being unexpectedly thrown by Mother Nature into a very dangerous situation.
Not only were they shocked, some coming up coughing from swallowing water but I was too, like Whoa, did that really happen? And, the way they came back to the line-up in a more humble demeanor. Quite an mystical experience to observe.
Even recent case studies have also shown that "survival of the fittest" is an outdated concept when it comes to species survival. While the "fittest" species may have an advantage in the short term, research has shown that species which are able to adapt to their environment are most likely to survive over time. This is because the environment is constantly changing, so species which are able to adjust to new conditions are more likely to thrive. Thus enter, Survival of the most competent.
Adapting to changing environments can give one a great advantage as they navigate different scenarios. It can help build resilience and resourcefulness, as well as an open-mindedness that can be beneficial in many areas of life. It can also lead to increased creativity, as one is forced to think outside of the box and come up with new solutions to old problems.
In conclusion, adapting to changing environments can help cultivate a better understanding of the world, the people, and the cultures in it. All of these qualities can help one to become more successful in life.
.png)
Posts
){kind=link}
Comments
Post a Comment