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The technical definition of biological evolution is the change in characteristics of a species over several generations. Evolution is powered by genetic variation, which occurs through various sources, including mutations, natural selection, genetic drift, and more.
The simplified idea behind evolution is that an organism that reproduces continues to create organisms (that can reproduce), while an organism that does not reproduce will not. So lifeforms that exist are a product of reproduction and tend to behave in a manner that favors reproduction because lifeforms that don't favor reproduction die out.
The Origin Of Life
Life is an abstract concept created by humans to describe the emergence of behavior from combinations of atoms. Animals — including humans — are made of "non-living" atoms that form "non-living" molecules that form "living" cells. So "life" is a human description of behaviors that classify a living being.
In other words, the concept of life isn't "real" but rather a description of atomic behavior.
Abiogenesis refers to the "origins of life" from non-living atomic matter to organic compounds such as cells. The logical idea behind abiogenesis is that it's mathematically possible for a "living organism" to be formed from non-living matter: Since life is made of atoms, the correct combination of atoms can result in a living organism.
An organism that reproduces (asexually or sexually) has a mathematically possible chance for the organism it produces to also reproduce. So — in this example — evolution describes the change in characteristics from the first "living" organism to the second and third organism that was formed.
It's mathematically possible for this process to occur multiple times in the universe, but not mathematically probable.
The Mindset
The mindset refers to the state of the human mind.
In the context of the mindset, the origins of the universe are irrelevant because a human can't comprehend the origins of the universe. In other words, it's not important how non-living matter came to exist, but rather that non-living matter exists somehow.
Evolution is a theory that uses reproducible information to describe how living organisms change over time. The significance of evolution is that a lifeform — such as a human — exists through the development of behavior that creates more lifeforms.
This behavior also has implications that must be understood:
- The lifeform's evolutionary success is not defined by any other property (e.g. strength) except the ability to reproduce.
- The lifeform's evolutionary success is not always dependent on the individual, nor can it always be evaluated upon the individual.
- The lifeform might not have the will to reproduce as a product of evolution.
These implications are significant because they demonstrate that evolution doesn't always result in behavior that is evolutionary successful for an individual organism, nor is there a purpose in being evolutionary successful. Rather, evolution results in the behavior of a living organism.
So why is evolution significant to the mindset?
When the human mind is a product of evolution, evolution is the basis of human behavior.