Introduction
Human knowledge has evolved throughout the years due to the dynamic nature of society. The human ability to collect and analyze data has improved due to scientific rise and research. The conscious mind gradually emerging in humans sets them apart from other animals. In lower-order species, numerous traits associated with conscious cognition are present in varying degrees. Human advancement has been a lengthy process that began with the creation of language and writing systems, was followed by discoveries made by scientists such as Isaac Newton and Galileo, and has culminated in the present rational human mind capable of creating numerous discoveries. The concepts of human evolution and progress have evolved throughout history leading to different perspectives on the scientific, agricultural, and language themes resulting in universal similarities that have shaped the nature of the world today.
Discussion
Human civilization refers to the progressive nature of a given society where improved levels of science, industry, culture, and government have been attained. The concept of civilization first appeared in Mesopotamia in the form of farming and later progressed to Egypt. Approximately 10,000 years ago, the creation of agriculture provided a necessary foundation for advancing human civilizations (Nisbet, 2017). Civilization had specific characteristics unique from traditional practices, which can be termed universal similarities. They shape humankind’s progress and potential evolution in the world in various ways.
There was the emergence of urban areas where people began practicing activities like trading and transportation using modern means like vehicles. In most cases, the urban residents depended on rural activities like fishing and farming. Preservation of monument buildings and structures as part of the civilization process. Today, it can be evidenced by the presence of old monuments in Egypt. Great Zimbabwe is used nowadays as a sign of political power in the government of Zimbabwe.
Universal means of communication is another distinct feature where numerics and alphabets are used. Symbolic thought had already developed when sophisticated languages emerged, confirmed by cave art reaching back 30,000 years (Nisbet, 2017). The high precision in definition and the structure of thinking and expression emerged approximately 5000 years ago (Nisbet, 2017). The origin of administration and infrastructure determine how systems of government are run.
A standard feature is the division of labor, where individuals specialize in particular tasks. Timbuktu city was known for specialization in ancient times, where residents traded on slavery, ivory, and gold. Lastly, grouping people into classes also formed a fundamental basis for civilization. The type of work performed and the income earned brought the rich, middle-class, and poor classifications. In Europe, kings and queens were the highest class since they had more money.
In our modern society, humankind and progress have been highly shaped by an ancient civilization. Most people prefer to stay in urban areas because of the many opportunities available. The work environment, way of life, and need for leisure and enjoyment have contributed significantly to that. Communication is made possible due to the use of symbolic and common languages in a particular country. Further, most industries have opted for the division of labor to increase productivity. Improved infrastructure has made trade activities easy and profitable. Most countries have based their administrative procedures, which have enabling smooth governance. Traditional monuments preserved from ancient times have attracted tourists earning countries revenue.
The Hellenic age led to rule development and the need for scientific truth. The ancient Greeks strongly prized free thinking, human agency, and the use of imagination (Gliozzi, 2022). The Greeks may have been the first to deliberately seek and absorb knowledge from various fields and approaches. The Romans exploited the Greeks’ reverence of the mind to formalize the law concept and created a body of governing documents.
Some scientists extensively, such as Isaac Newton, participated in human evolution. Newton’s scientific contributions span three centuries and relied on a scientific approach (Gliozzi, 2022). He is attributed to his work on gravity and the discovery of universal laws. As all natural forces were supposed to be under God’s direction, a mathematical explanation for a natural phenomenon ran counter to the church’s teachings (Gabbey, 2020). The Catholic Church condemned Galileo Galilei’s theory that the Earth revolves around the sun as heretical; thus, he was forced to surrender to the Holy Office and face trial.
One of humanity’s most outstanding achievements in the modern world is the human mind which has strengths and weaknesses. Microscopes, computers, clocks, telescopes, X-rays, and many more are a few of the scientific instruments that have aided humanity’s quest for knowledge (Nisbet, 2017). The human mind is capable of complete objectivity and knowledge of its environment. It can receive sensory information about the external environment, process it, and draw conclusions about it (Nisbet, 2017). Creativity has led to many advancements where people can utilize their knowledge to develop ideas.
Through sensations, it can react differently to dangers in the surrounding environment. The mind’s inability to see reality directly is a central theme in many philosophical traditions. It can detach itself from reality in its perception of thought forms and the formulation of thought symbols reflecting fact. When an animal makes a loud noise, it triggers a mental feeling that causes the mind to become fully attentive. The human mind can thus respond to the noise produced and take the appropriate actions. At the beginning of thought, pictures, sounds, and gestures symbolically portray nature’s forces.
Conclusion
In summary, human civilization emerged some centuries ago with the beginning of agriculture in Mesopotamia. Further, the emergence of urban cities, where people shifted to do trade and other activities, evolved. The similarities that can be seen between this civilization and human progress in evolution have been clearly elaborated. They include division of labor, infrastructure development, administrative features, and communication. During the Hellenic period, important ground principles for using reason and logic were established.
References
Gabbey, A. (2020). Newton and natural philosophy.In companion to the history of modern science (pp. 243–263). Routledge. Web.
Gliozzi, M. (2022). A history of physics from antiquity to the enlightenment. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Nisbet, R. (2017). History of the idea of progress. Routledge.