Epilogue

In this last chapter I summarise core characteristics of (terrestrial) biological evolution and discuss unrecognised critical evolutionary behavioural pattern of human societies. A general core feature of biological evolution is the capacity of organisms to cope interactively with unexpected environmental changes. Current epoch of terrestrial evolution can be characterised as angiosperm-insect regulated. There is no sound reason to define an “Anthropocene”, in the worst case we are in the onset of an “Anthropogenic Disruption”. This statement is based on the fatal combination of ingenuity of human societies with incompetence to govern complex systems. The first attribute is a special feature of human evolution based on continuous innovations by causal interpretation of interesting phenomena to surmount adverse constraints. The second attribute is caused by selective and limited capacities for processing of environmental information, contingent on long-term evolution in complementary organismal interactions under uncertain environmental dynamics. This attribute comes in particular into force at the social level in context of large-scale challenges, e.g. climate change or pandemics. Effects of this attribute can be partially compensated by public awareness enhancing with participatory methods for regular observation of environmental conditions. Additionally evolutionary risk-robust strategies are required to reduce catastrophic effects of unpredictable societal or environmental impacts.