Evolution

I've been fascinated by evolution, in all its forms, for a long time. The evolution of the natural world is just mind-boggling. How did the forget-me-not evolve to have that beautiful, precisely drawn face? Why do turkeys have a wattle—what possible purpose might it have served in getting them here? Equally fascinating is the evolution of human thought. I wonder where consciousness itself came from, what were the tiny steps that led to its emergence as another function next to, say, the opposable thumb or the ability to digest whale blubber and cactus leaves. And I wonder about the “evolution” of a society’s worldview or an individual’s thinking over time.

For the past year and a half (or so), President Obama has said his ideas on same-sex marriage were “evolving.” This week, that evolution reached a new level, as he declared in a televised interview that his now-evolved belief is that same-sex couples should be able to marry. Other parts of that interview showed up on a morning TV show the next day. This is a particularly striking example of “evolution.” The topic is contentious enough even without the storm often stirred up by the mention of “evolution.”

In its basic form, evolution occurs when organisms change over many generations in ways that help them adapt to their environment. This happens, as far as we currently know, when particular variations in a trait prove useful in adaptation. So, the organisms that have this trait live longer, reproduce more, and pass it on. Their offspring are then more likely to have the same trait, so they live longer, reproduce more, and pass it on … Think of giraffes with longer necks who can reach the high leaves when drought has thinned the trees.

If we translate this idea directly to human thought, it seems like our ideas would change when having a different idea would help us get along in the world. In the case of Obama’s evolving ideas, some might say he did this for political gain (which, as many commentators have noted, is not a likely outcome). His own explanation is that he’s gradually shifted as he’s gotten to know LGBT people, has talked with his kids about their friends’ families, and has reflected on principles taken from his faith, especially the “golden rule.” Either of these interpretations suggests events in his world that might encourage him to change his position—to adapt to this new world we inhabit.

Follow me on a short digression:  

A couple of years ago, we visited the Galapagos Islands, the place where Darwin famously made the observations that helped him formulate the principle of evolution through natural selection. The animals were amazing in their variety and striking uniqueness. What ever benefit would blue feet have for a bird? And how long did it take for the tortoises to develop  different-shaped shells on each island? 

They were also remarkable in their indifference to humans. With no predators, they've never developed the escape behaviors we’re used to seeing. So it’s actually possible to stand within a few feet of a nursing sea lion pup and have neither mother nor child so much as raise a flipper ... not to mention the over-sized father napping next to them.

But maybe even more fascinating to me was my awareness that we were standing on the same ground where Darwin made his famous observations. “He walked right here,” I thought to myself. “He saw these birds, these tortoises, these plants, this lava field.” It was here that Western thought spun off in a direction that would change our understanding of virtually everything. The mechanism that makes change happen was suddenly sketched in systematic terms. It made sense of aspects of reality that had been shrouded in mystery. Like how organisms change—and maybe, how societies change.

So, to get back to Obama's "evolution" ... Darwin was exploring physical evolution, and the physical environment was the “tool” that shaped these changes in organisms. But human beings have this other dimension. Call it reason, call it a moral sensibility, call it a soul or a spirit, call it a cerebral cortex. It sets human experience apart, and it also allows, even demands, new kinds of evolution. This dimension, like long necks or opposable thumbs, has evolved over time because it helps us get along. It helps us live in the social, moral, self-aware human environment that is our "Galapagos." 

Somewhere in that sensibility is the invitation (if not the imperative) to “do the right thing.” My own preferred interpretation of Obama’s move lies here. Whatever other factors impinged on this evolution in his thinking, I believe he took this final step because he decided that it’s the right thing to do. His kids are telling him, directly and indirectly, that this is the morally obvious path to follow, and he’s listening to them. He’s getting to know and care about more and more LGBT folks, and that humanizes them, individualizes this often-vague, impersonal morass of “LGBT people.” He sees that the arc of history is carrying us (if with some painful setbacks) toward full equality for LGBT individuals, and his belief in equality makes this seem right to him. His own rhetoric of integrity and hope urge him to take the high road.

Sure, his evolution was much slower than many of us would have preferred. Sure, you can argue that he’s simply reacting/adapting to the historical, political environment. That’s a fair interpretation. But maybe his finally coming to this point reflects the most human, though not the easiest, of adaptations: he changed his mind. His view broadened, his choices became clearer, his sense of who he is and who he wants to be, perhaps especially in his children’s eyes, urged him to dare this position. Gradually, to be sure, but in the end, he found the courage to change his mind. That’s hard for any of us to do, especially in public and facing inevitable criticism. Especially in an environment where changes of mind are regarded as “etch-a-sketch” maneuvers. A change of mind as fraught as this would be hard for any of us, just trying to get along in our own small worlds. Imagine how hard it is for the President, who's doing it on the world stage and for the history books.

It makes perfect sense that this evolution actually took time. Evolution in its truest form always takes time because it’s foundational. In truth, this is precisely the path that most of us follow when we change our minds about complex and thorny questions: if we do it from our core, it takes time.

Watch the videos. Obama invited this interview. He was clear that it was his time to take a stand. He looks completely at ease with his position. It looks to me like he’s found his moral ecological niche.