The death of orchids and cultures thoughts on extinction

The story teller returned to my thoughts a contemplation I had thought on years ago and have still not solved. This contemplation this dilemma focuses on the comparison of a human culture to a biological species how similar they are and how both are so irreplaceable. I feel so conflicted on this issue because to me a species is like a treasure such as a painting, so irreplaceable. Their can be only one original, it is wonderful and once lost their is really no way to restore it. (In the practical sense, science can do wonders but it can not seems to restore things to how the have been in continuing equilibrium. I have heard science can clone the mammoth but can it set them loose into the world as as wild sustaining system tat fits into its own ecosystem, I doubt it sadly) A culture is so much the same once it has died out it is really lost, its traditions rituals and stories, fade to memory and them to history. Just like the Dodo bird lost to history never again to walk earth.

Both cultures and species take an glorious amount of time to form, both based upon what has come before, ever slowly changing to fit within their surroundings, Evolving so gracefully. (If I can be permitted to use that term, I think on this issue from the stand point of someone who is fascinated by genetics and the tree of life, yet I am also a Christian and have never really felt the conflict that so many, from both sides of the debate, say is present)

I guess what I am getting at is that both cultures and biological species have in my mind so many similarities and maybe that is what saddens me. Because in biology species go extinct as a part of the natural order, if a species can not survive they will die out, they will be replaced. Survival of the fittest is ruthless at its heart not by choice but by chance.

 In a nutshell Natural variation is a process created from chance but controlled by survival. Mutations (or change) are created randomly and will affect fitness (or survival). Likely hood suggests accurately that the individuals that are more fit in their surroundings are the more likely to survive and so produce offspring like them selves. Individuals that are less fit are less likely to produce offspring and therefore are superseded by those who do.

Its a nice clean calm fact based and ruthless system, terribly ruthless. With no over-site or guidance nature works every gracefully, the species present gradually change by chance and selection so to improve their fitness. And we are surrounded by its wonders, a personal favorite of mine are orchids. This Type of plant is often known first for lovely flowers, in many wondrous shapes. Orchids are a truly interesting group that is quite diverse.Some orchids are known for their very specific habitats and conditions of growth, even slight changes can result in the death of the plants and their is a fragility a tragedy. I find it so sad that nature would spend so long to produce a thing so lovely that is destined to fade into history. Change in habitat, even a very small one, can result of extinction of a beautiful flower. Simply because conditions are no longer right for the flower and so it will be replaced by an organism more fit. It is natural and a continuing process leading the way for the creating of other things, maybe other flowers. Its wonderful to think of how life will continue on changing into new and wonderful forms and tragic to watch as these wonders replace or supersede other wonders.

And here we are back to myths, legends, rituals, societies and cultures. Like biological species they develop over time, gradually building on what has come before until today. I can't help but to see the similarities, are cultures also governed by natural selection? It appears so and their fore it is natural and somewhat unavoidable to see cultures fade into history as the the world changes. Societies that can no longer the most fit for their surroundings are simply going to be replaced by other societies and walks of life. Its sad but I am still hopeful. I hope that all is not lost and that some aspects of a dying culture are incorporated into the new, that unlike a species their can be a little blending and society can continue onward incorporating the best elements forward. I am hopeful because natural selection ideally leads to ever improving the chances of survival and continually selects for improvements, maybe it means that cultures are always improving and will always continue to do so. I feel that their is no perfect culture or society on earth, but I believe societies can change. I hope that human culture continues to improve itself, not just for survival but for greater things such as peace on earth and goodwill among men.

 I think it is pointless just to survive, I think our society can be beautiful just like an orchid, we just need to make it that way. Unlike natural selection we can provide oversight and guidance to our own development we choose our own destiny and I hope and fear for our future, but at the end of the day its up to us. Mankind's culture can develop by natural selection or we can choose our destiny, I do hope we choose wisely instead of simply chance and selection.

But these are just my thoughts