I got my hands on the DVD set of the old TV series “Cosmos” and was able to start watching it recently. I’m amazed at how well it’s aged and also at how well Carl Sagan gets his points across. One idea I particularly liked was in the second episode. It deals with evolution and the origins of life on Earth, he described life on Earth as one lonely theme in a cosmic fugue.
The idea of life on Earth as a musical theme is an attractive one, with each species as an instrument in that theme. Imagine it, life starts as a simple refrain, just a simple tune. As time goes by the simple tune on a single instrument becomes a little more complex, more notes are added.
Then different species start to appear, more instruments join the melody. Maybe they seem at odds, like hunter and prey; but there is always a pattern, a symmetry there.
The point is also made that the vast majority of species to have appeared on the Earth are now extinct, many of those instruments will never be heard again.
Hi Richard,
Many species have disappeared in that they evolved into new species… Perhaps you can view that as becoming better musicians. And some species may have disappeared simply because they could not keep up with the new melody (if I may continue the musical analogy) or were too cacophonic?
Anne
This reminds of the opening chapter of Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion” where the creation of Middle Earth is a vast, complex, and beautiful chorus of voices. Worth reading if you haven’t already, for the sheer bliss of the prose, if not scientific quality.
I’ve been on hiatus, but I used to read you pretty frequently. I hope you don’t mind if I add you to my new blog.
Thanks for both your comments.
Anne, I like the direction you’re taking this in, I agree with you.
Grasshopper, welcome back and yes of course you can add me. I have read the Silmarillion, but had failed completely to spot this, Tolkien’s prose is excellent.