The Various Paths for the
Soul’s
Evolution
Recent studies on
Non-Human Intelligence Allow us to Understand a
Cautious Remark of Kardec
My special thanks to Ann Leslie
Goldman for proof-reading the English
version
In Item 56, Chapter I, Second Part of “The Spirits’ Book”, Allan Kardec
says: “The Human form, though differenced in some details, and with
certain organic modifications necessitated by the nature of the sphere
in which the soul is called to exist, appears to be common to the
inhabitants of all
the globes of the universe; this, at least, is what the Spirits tell
us...”
Despite the fact that Kardec, from this point onwards starts to draw
some conclusions based on the first part of the quoted sentence, we
would
like to call the reader’s attention to its last part where he says
“this,
at least, is what the Spirits tell us”. As all those who have studied
the
Spiritist Codification know well, Kardec never made any affirmation
without
having first submitted it to his reason and to common sense. The
caution
expressed in the last part of the sentence clearly shows that such was
not
the case concerning the affirmation that “The Human form … appears to
be
common to the inhabitants of all the globes of the universe”. We will
try
to show in this work that Kardec had good reasons to be so cautious.
***
Since
ancient times man has noticed that some animal species show certain
human-like behaviors that are called intelligent when referring to
mankind. That was how animals as varied as dogs, crows, dolphins,
parrots, chimpanzees and owls, among others, have throughout the
centuries been associated with characteristics like fidelity,
smartness, friendship, ability and wisdom.
From XXth century onwards the issue of “Non-Human Intelligence”
captured the attention of scientists, resulting today in an abundance
of scientists dedicated to the study of various animal species. Such
scientists are divided in associative psychologists, a branch of
science that was born in the
USA in the 20’s and etologists, another branch of science, born in
Europe
in the 30’s. It is important to stress based on that information that
there
was no branch of science in the XIXth century entirely dedicated to the
study of animal behavior, a fact that justifies Kardec’s hesitation to
accept
what the Spirits had said about the hominal form in the various worlds.
At the beginning of those studies the notion that animal intelligence
had to be compared to that of man and evaluated according to it was
predominant. According to that understanding science has compared among
various species their brain’s absolute and then relative size, has used
the encephalization quotient and estimated the amount of folding in the
neocortex. None of
those approaches were shown to be good enough. Many scholars nowadays
are
supporting the thesis that intelligence is something that cannot be
analyzed
interspecies. They understand that intelligence must be studied within
each species only according to the way its members choose among many
sets
of information available which one will allow them to succeed in each
challenge
they have to face.
Having to face the uncountable studies available nowadays proving the
intelligence of various species, someone might place an objection to
their soul’s evolution saying that what they do today is basically the
same as they did centuries ago or even since history has recorded their
existence. Far from being a valid counter argument such an affirmation
would only show, to our point of view, a mistaken perception about the
evolution of human intelligence.
The intelligence of human beings as much as that of other animals
doesn’t
show to have evolved much during the last millennia, as clearly
suggested by the sophistication of the old scriptures and philosophical
writings.
The evolution that the human species really shows is predominately
scientific and technological, and it has happened as a result of human
ability to build tools and communicate in a sophisticated manner that
we call language.
Therefore, if we want to know if another
species is capable of reaching, some time in the future, a stage
similar to where humanity is now, we need to know more than whether the
species is intelligent or not, we need to
know if its individuals are able to make tools and if the way they
communicate among themselves is sophisticated enough to be called a
language. We have to consider, nevertheless, that the stage where
humanity is now doesn’t
necessarily represent a compulsory stage for all animal species. If it
is
true that having a language stands out as a necessary evolutionary
achievement,
the same cannot be said regarding tool-making ability, which may or may
not be necessary depending on the environment in which the species
lives
and on the conditions in which it has to survive.
Researchers have found sophisticated communication abilities and many
more intelligent features in several species, some of them living in
the sea, some on land and others perching on trees and moving through
the air. In a future article to be published we will give an example of
each kind in
order to better characterize that information.
***
Maria João de Deus, Chico Xavier’s beloved mother, referred to
the inhabitants of Saturn using the following words: “They had nothing
in common with the kind of human beings that live on Earth, appearing
to me extraordinarily ugly in their animal-like organization, with
membranes serving as wings allowing them liberty to drift in the air at
will.” In view of her astonishment, the instructor explained her
about the living conditions present in that world. Then, referring to
the world’s inhabitants, he said: “Those creatures that appear to you
as animals coming from regions of Earth where zoophytes find their
living elements, are beings highly endowed with wisdom, sensibility and
intelligence. Their senses and overall perception are far superior than
those of Earth’s human beings and the main concern of their existence
is the increase of their intellectual power.”
We have shown in our study that species evolve in different ways
depending on the environment where they live and the challenges they
have to face
in order to survive. We have further shown that, despite the specific
evolutionary path taken, every species will sooner or later reach the
hominal realm
and proceed towards angelitude. Considering that evolution happens in
two
planes, we know that the changes made necessary in the physical body
reflect
on similar changes in the subtle body and vice-versa. Therefore, an
animal
that has been evolving for thousands of years in a liquid environment
has
a physical body highly adapted to liquid environments, with the same
adaptations
reflected on its subtle body. The same can be said, mutatis mutandis,
with
respect to an animal that has been moving through the air for thousands
of
years along its evolution.
The beings that Maria João perceived in Saturn weren’t therefore
a product of illusion but something absolutely possible to expect.
Because Saturn is a gaseous world, the beings that live there must
necessarily have their physical and subtle bodies adapted to such an
environment. After having learnt that the intelligence of some bird
species has been evolving we are allowed to presume that the path they
are taking may lead them several millennia from now to a similar stage.
We expect to have shown strong evidences pointing to the conclusion
that there are several different paths in evolution and that the
present human physical and subtle constitution is just one and not the
sole option a
soul has to live in when it reaches the hominal realm. We salute once
more
at this point the wise caution of Kardec.
***
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Images
Spinner Dolphin - photo by Philipa
Christian - URL:
http://www.oneloveonespirit.com
Parrot - URL:
http://www.thebestfree.net/