The Missing Link

Philosophy Forums Science, Technology, and Math
1

Time Consciousness

Conscious evaluation is related to the relative measurements of Time and Space
the finer the measurement
the more defined consciousness becomes

The basic organic mind is conscious of 3 billion years of past experience
which is applied to present circumstances
in the struggle for survival
the future exists instinctively - not consciously

food and sex are searched for
immediately hunger is sated
enjoyment is expressed
Time is stopped
there is no conscious relationship or concern with the Future

awareness and preparation of future need
eventually leading to self-awareness
defines the state and growth of human consciousness

the present and future are the results of past event
thus the more clearly past experience is recalled to consciousness
the more certain the needs of the present are met
and the more probable preparations for the future
can be accommodated

thus
seeing clearly ahead
is the essence of wisdom
for the SEER has a comprehensive grasp of Time and Space
and is conscious of being in the right place at the right time
doing the right thing

the desire for the security of wisdom
is the driving force of conscious evolution
accumulated experience
distilled via increasingly accurate design
is the timeless nectar of the Gods
when all is complete
precisely as designed
the next cosmic cycle begins

so how in this earthly cycle of conscious evolution
did an ape consciousness
some eight million years ago
at the pinnacle of 3 billion years of organic survival experience
make a quantum leap
and become conscious of the needs of the future
and prepare him/herself for it?
what is the missing link?
what was the actual survival mechanism that triggered it?

2

The Missing Link
is the Wood Age 8m BCE
which evolved into the Stone Age - 2.5m BCE

after 3 billion years of conscious development
the ape brain with a computing and storage capacity of 400cc
evolved some 30 million years ago

this ape brain had remained static
and grew no larger for the next 20 million years

then some five to eight million years ago
within the space of 5 million years
the skull size of one of the specie of apes
suddenly ballooned to 1400cc
while all the rest of its relatives remained static

why?
obviously in order to provide far greater computing capacity

if the ape specie was surviving quite happily for tens of millions of years
with its former brain
why did Nature select one of the specie
and decide it needed a larger brain?
what was trebling the computing capacity needed for?
what intellectual factor arrived to trigger the new growth spurt?

The answer can only be the Time factor
the former ape brain dealt only with the retrieval of past time experience
factored in with all the variables of present time survival exigencies
the infinite variables of future effect on present action
were not factored into their survival needs

in basic conscious terms
apes live moment to moment
intuitively conscious of all past experience
able to apply that survival knowledge to daily existence
but apes have no consciousness of the future
therefore a 400cc brain is all that is needed for survival

the ape brain had remained static
because its survival variables were finite
400cc were sufficient capacity for present needs
preparing for future changes and adaptations
were not factored in

so what exact new survival need forced one of the apes
to bring the infinite variables of future effect into play
and stimulate the brain to expand three times its former size
in order to accommodate, compute and try to make survival sense
out of infinite variables?

The answer can be found in ape tool use

Chimps use freshly peeled sticks oozing sap to ensnare ants
they also use sticks to poke edibles out of crevices
when the application is over
THEY LEAVE THE TOOL AND THE TIME REQUIRED TO PREPARE IT BEHIND
future need of the same tool is not in consciousness

The first ape that kept the wooden tool
forced the computing capacity of the brain to grow
allowing it to factor into survival consciousness
the infinite variables of future environmental imperatives

Nature engaged in evolving a super-brain capable of inventing and applying ever-advancing technology expertise in order to adapt to possible future changes and not end up extinct like the dinosaurs

thus retention of a stick as a tool began the rapid climb towards human consciousness

during the WOOD AGE. 8m BCE - 2.5M BCE
which marks the beginning of the Stone Age
wood was sharpened and carved, worked and crafted into hundreds of uses
while the hominid brain kept growing in retrieval and storage capacity

during the 5 million years of brain growth
several attempts were made to habituate and genetically imprint
the need for tool retention and work it for wider survival applications
they obviously failed. accounting for the several dead-ends and extinctions
on our back-trail
only one hominid specie survived to become fully human
dominate all of Nature
contemplate the meaning of the universe
and enjoy the agonies and ecstasies
of self reflection

consciousness is still evolving
the brain is still growing…

3

TOOL RETENTION

that tantalizing chimera of a moment
as the ape mind tried to dimply grasp the abstract concept of tool-retention
could have played out over thousands of generations during the physical process
of increasing cranium expansion after 20 million years of idleness

randomness may have had a marginal effect
to keep reminding the ape to hold onto the tool

the possibility of inspiration could also be part of the equation

A peculiarity of environmental conditions might have triggered it

the only real proof will be the discovery of a piece of petrified wood
with distinct evidence of being worked by man
and predating the Stone Age

the odds of that discovery are indeed slim
but it might happen God willing
and put all doubts to rest

with the missing link in place
perhaps all of us can get on with our business on this planet
with a greater sense of mutual respect
and less warring over the question of our genesis