I used to think a lot about the way in which an individual species’ evolved characteristics are born out of a direct relationship to the physical environment into which they are born— and born, and born, and born, etc. It seemed to me that in popular discourse, evolution itself was given too much agency, or something like will power, as if it were some vital force that would sometimes think to itself “We shall now grow powerful claws with which to subjugate our prey and ensure our continued existence,” as opposed to its reality, which is more along the lines of “well everyone died but bill and he has big claws so let's go with that.”
I’m not sure why that's the first thing that popped into my head when I opened up my laptop to send a quick newsletter, having loaded up Mom’s old subaru and now ready to hit the road to see Dad and my brothers. It is important to remember both that the “subject” of evolutionary change is the species and not individual organisms, as well as to think about the way in which evolution is both a relation of that subject to its environment and a product of that relationship. Maybe I’ll think about that as I listen to Paul Simon’s truly incredible new EP, Seven Psalms, as I course across deserts and over mountains to be with my family.
I’m going home because my dad is very ill. If you’d like to join me, I encourage you to listen to Seven Psalms (maybe it’d be like we are on a road trip together), and if you feel so moved or find yourself able, I would appreciate a donation to my go fund me to make it possible. Thank you so much to those of you who’ve already helped out. Relatedly, you can also subscribe to my patreon.
Do species take risks? Does evolution sometimes gamble? “Flip a coin?” Are those questions worth thinking about? Is the value of a question a matter of somehow calculating its worth? And what is “home” anyway? I think I have a lot to think about on this trip. Or: at least there is a lot there to think about should I choose, or find myself able, to. For now I gotta hustle and fuel up and hit the highway. More soon, and thanks for your support XOXO —Joshua