i think i've finally given up on the last of my teilhardian inclinations ... the appealing illusion of the great chain of being, an ultimate evolutionary destination ... no longer has any sway over me. just in the last few days i've reconciled completely with the point of view that human consciousness is an accidental by-product of genetic and memetic evolutionary forces. which is not to say that I don't still believe that creatures with god-like intelligence will evolve, via a combination of genetic and technological vectors. of course they will ... because consciousness / intelligence is a very powerful "attractor" in terms of fitness (like sight, or multi-cellularity).

so, how has this minor revelation affected my behavior? not much. my love affair with music continues, i still want to kiss everybody, and when i woke up this morning my clothes were scattered all over the living room floor and my mouth felt like i'd fallen asleep sucking on a ricecake.