Humanity is a Trans–Specific Self– Transcendent Genus

Since 6.5 millions of year ago humanity is progressed along a path that has led to the symbolic culture that permeates our current life. Although such a process has been lengthy (but relatively short considering evolutionary time) and complicated, we can find elements that connect the different stages of this evolution and allow us to call our ancestors “humans”, although pertaining to different biological species. e most relevant common character that cuts across this whole evolution is the tendency to self-transcendence, i.e. the fact that our culture shows the so-called ratchet effect: it cumulates and therefore allows for further progresses. As a matter of fact, humanity has not been fixed once for all (even from a biological point of view) but finds itself still in evolution. Such a character is even stronger when dealing with the human brain and our mental capabilities. e relevance of this point of view for both philosophy and theology is shown.