OUSPENSKY

The Fourth Way talks about man's possible evolution. But what is meant by that? Man's possible evolution, as referred to, by Ouspensky, is not an evolution in the classical Darwinian sense. Since Darwin, the thought that life processes can be described in evolutionary terms, has become commonplace in most debates in the natural sciences. According to evolutionary theories, organisms seem to naturally evolve to an ever higher level of development. According to Darwin's theory, evolution is a function of random mutation and natural selection. The organism that is best apt to adapt to changes in its surroundings, has the best chance for survival and to pass on, its traits to its offspring. Survival is therefore, the necessary and sufficient condition for procreation, and procreation, in succession, is the necessary and sufficient condition to sustain life. But this type of evolution, is not the kind of evolution the system of The Fourth Way talks about. Evolution, in a Darwinian sense, is mechanical, due to the fact that it is primarily governed by random mutation. There's no consciousness in randomness; therefore, Darwin's evolution is not caused by a conscious effort.