Hyperbolic Evolution from Biosphere to Technosphere

Abstract

This chapter confirms that the pattern of hyperbolic growth (characterized by a clear mathematical singularity) is not a phenomenon of human population growth only. It is shown that this growth pattern has very deep evolutionary roots which began, at least, from the origin of life. In the case of biological evolution, the growth took place in the number of species, and in the case of technological evolution, it took place in the types of human activity which led to the dynamics of the hyperbolic human population growth. This change of focus (from species to human population) occurred because of the accelerated evolution—new ecological niches emerged quicker than new species could adapt. However, humans could adapt quicker to fill these niches, and therefore, the growth pattern continued in the kinds of human activity. For the same reason, another substantial change is possible in the future—in connections with such forms as associated with artificial intelligence and robots.