I posted this in another thread where is was out of place, but I wanted to get peoples thoughts.
I think there are 3 possible next steps to human evolution and therefore to human society as a whole.
1. Humanity is sublimated by technology. That is, humanity programs themselves into electronic format or are replaced by very humanlike machines which can replicate themselves. Bill Joy, chief scientist at Sun Microsystems and others point to this as a possibility so its not a far fetched as it sounds.
2. Humanity becomes extinct. That is, humanity uses up all of the earth's natural resources or pollutes them into unuseableness leaving the earth to more adaptable creatures like cockroaches and rats. This is the consequence of replacing a natural based value system with a fiat based value system (fiat means declared value, ie. a dollar is worth a dollar because someone says it is worth a dollar). Money is worth more than a rain forest, etc. That is until the natural world is gone and we figure out we can't eat, drink or breathe our money.
3. Humanity recognizes itself as a piece of a larger interconnected natural living universe and applies equal value to all parts of that natural universe including themselves. In other words, man comes to an understanding that he is not separate from nature or over nature. He is not a special creature made in god's image thus differentiating himself and giving him special privileges.
All three are possible outcomes. In all probability, we will not see which outcome occurs in our lifetime, but I highly suspect your grandchildren or great grandchildren will.
hopeful hugs
Joel