Multicellular Organisms
According to Wikipedia, multicellular organisms probably appeared massively some 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian explosion. Thus, in terms of timespan, most of the Second Evolution has dealt with unicellular organisms (prokaryotes then eukaryotes). But rather suddenly, once the multicellular organisms appeared (the jury is still out how), it has flourished on Earth. We cannot talk of an advantage over the single cells (because unicellular still dominates the biomass), but rather a new feature that allowed diversification and new adaptive characteristics. All animals, vegetation and mushrooms are multicellular organisms. Cells are able to specialize (liver, lung, brain, muscle...) and they all cooperate in one singe individual.
Division of labour
It is just an analogy, but we see the general trend of human organisations, getting more specialised, as being similar. The division of labour is acting powerfully on the interaction between human beings. Small groups of people living in autarchy are disappearing. On the contrary, the interdependency of human beings keeps growing. The one working on steel making has no idea on how to take care of a tooth cavity. An estate agent has no idea on how transistors are used by engineers.
The Third Evolution is about emerging organisms, making a large group of people to achieve some goals together. These organisms can be as simple as a family, or as complex as India, Coca-Cola Company or the Christian religion.
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| People can gather in a stadium. They meet peacefully towards a common goal (enjoying some sport event). Harari mentioned that with monkeys it would be pandemonium. |
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