Imagine a World Without Walking: The Human Flight Scenario

Imagine a scenario where all humans stopped walking and started flying. This hypothetical world would be vastly different from our current existence, both in terms of our physical form and our societal structures. The Earth would naturally repair the damage left behind by humans, and we would no longer be considered part of the planetary ecosystem. This article explores how the loss of bipedalism would impact our development, evolution, and daily life.

Evolutionary Implications of Human Flight

While pinnipeds and cetaceans, such as seals and whales, are perfectly adapted to the marine environment, their lack of grip and opposable thumbs prevents them from developing complex tools. The process of homination, as defined by paleontologists, involves a complex set of evolutionary processes that gave rise to the human species. Key to this process were prehensile skills, an opposable thumb, and upright posture, which allowed early humans to build and use tools to adapt to their environment.

It is impossible to hypothesize that humans could develop wings without simultaneously altering their evolutionary trajectory. If we were to develop the ability to fly today, we would likely resemble bats or dolphins in the sea more than we do today. In such a scenario, we would not possess the necessary prehensile skills or opposable thumbs to create a technological civilization. We would be just another animal on the Earth, fundamentally changed by our new means of locomotion.

The Challenge of Building Without Hands

Losing the ability to walk and using only our mouths and feet to build a house would be immensely difficult. This exercise underscores the critical importance of hands with opposable thumbs in our ability to construct and create. Without them, our bodies would become more akin to paws, and our limbs would transform into wings. In this new world, our sole purpose would be to fly, eat, sleep, and reproduce, resulting in a life devoid of complexity and diversity.

Consequences for Human Society and Evolution

The absence of hands and the presence of wings would significantly alter our anatomy and evolution. If humans could fly, our species would diverge from the path of other primates, such as chimpanzees and gorillas. In this scenario, the human form would adapt to the demands of flight, resulting in a shorter lifespan, simpler habits, and a drastically different way of life.

Life Without Advanced Brain Capacity

With wings instead of hands, our cognitive abilities would be severely compromised. Without the necessary brain capacity to perform even the simplest tasks, our lives would be reduced to basic survival activities. The idea of flying, while appealing in terms of the freedom it would provide, is marred by the absence of technological advancement and the loss of intricate communication and problem-solving skills.

However, if given the choice, many would embrace the ability to fly. Despite the downsides, the thought of being liberated from the constraints of bipedalism is alluring. It is worth noting, however, that being missed by society is a given in this hypothetical scenario, as humans would be fundamentally transformed into a species that no longer fits the mold of our current understanding.