***** Vol.3 Chap.3 A moral dilemma *****

After everybody left, Frank asked, “Well, Mark. What is the actual answer to Leon’s question?”

“The truth is that aggression against one’s own kind happened often. Cliques were formed and cooperation generally was restricted to members within the same clique. This was a by-product of mutation because members of the same clique possessed the same language. They understand one another. But when a member from outside the clique arrived, the new creature could not communicate with the foreign clique and was thus treated as an enemy.”

“I see.”

“Because we set the parameter for survival very high, the creatures were not benevolent at all. Survival was all the creatures knew and cared about.”

“Good, let’s talk another time. I have sufficient funds to support you for another year as a post-doc to continue this work. Would you like to stay here for another year? I have lots of scenarios I want you to explore.”

“Be glad to.”

“Super. Now go get drunk.”

“Not really. Got to turn in the corrected dissertation in 48 hours.”

“OK, turn in the dissertation, then get drunk. When you are sober, come see me. I am eager for you to get started.”

“Yes, sir!”

But Frank was already out of the room. It was past six in the afternoon when Mark finished his dissertation defense.

Good kid. Frank thought.

Though elated that he helped another student finish, Frank’s mood was much dampened and spoiled by Leon’s question. At the back of his mind, something still nagged him as he walked back to his office.

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Is morality or lack of it a by-product of evolution and mutation? Always? Can the sense of survival be so strong that neutral creatures can and will become aggressive? If unchecked, will evil be the last stop in life’s journey?

Surely not! This cannot be. He shuddered at the thought.

While totally displeased by Leon’s questions, Frank was also glad that these questions were brought up as they awakened some deep doubts within him, uncertainties he had been wrestling for quite a long time.

He could not reconcile the dichotomy of evolution and creation in society and humanity. If this world was indeed created by a certain Supreme Being called God, then was evil also created by this same Supreme Being? That hardly seemed logical at all.

Was evil created or evolved? Why was there so much suffering and misfortune in this world? Why did accidents happen to both the good and the evil? Why was it that there were so many religions that believed in one God, three Gods, many Gods, etc.? Must religion be always so confusing?

Many questions, yet no answers.

Clearly, there was order observed in the universe as seen in the planets and even on this planet earth for life to be maintained. There must be a purpose in this universe, a meaning in human existence, a goal to humanity. It was hard to fathom the intricacies, complexity, and the balance required just to support human life on this earth; there was simply too much coincidence for life to just “happen” through evolution.

But even putting evolution aside, there was plenty of evidence in the natural world to support Darwin’s basic theory of the survival of the fittest. Survival was the key in the jungle, in the desert, and even in modern society.

In the animal kingdom, only the strongest and the most dominant ones were the ones with the privilege of passing on their genes to the next generation. In the business world, only the strongest corporations stayed after an inevitable shakedown. In education, only the top students rose to the top and received the best education.

As each human generation appeared and disappeared, from the hippies, to the boomers, to the yuppies, to Generation X, to Generation Y, to Generation Z, and so on, each generation was built on the foundation and knowledge of all the previous generations.

If evolution was true, why were there enormous gaps in the development road map of the homo sapiens from a single amoeba? Who were the predecessors of apes and monkeys?

More questions and even fewer answers.

I must have a closer examination of Mark’s program again.

He found a renewed interest in those artificial creatures.