‘Survival of the Fittest’ was a phrase coined by Herbert Spencer (an economist) that was used by and more popularly associated with Charles Darwin. Darwin used this as a metaphor to concisely explain part of his great work, On the Origin of Species.
The inference from the quote, in context of Darwin, is a better design for the immediate and local environment.
When one considers the evolution of Homo sapiens, one can quickly recognise how certain aspects of our being have evolved to adapt to the situations encountered: bi-pedal walking, stereoscopic vision, opposable thumbs. These ensure we can function as ‘huntergatherers’, while the development of language and communication methods allows the expression of our desires and needs.
What is readily being recognised now is that the next evolutionary step happening for men (and women) is not about who is the ‘fittest’ person, in the context of hunting for food or running a marathon. Instead, who is the ‘fittest’ person to meet the complex demands of the modern age; navigating social interactions, business pressures, changed gender roles and different expectations of ‘the father figure’. This is leading to a deeper discussion on what it means to be a man.
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