1033 Chapter 18. A major reason why most evolutionary biologists think that evolution is not progressive is bacteria.
Bacteria seem to be at least as successful as humanity in purely evolutionary terms.
They have survived on this planet for over 3,500 years, they are still surviving, and they seem certain of continued survival, at least in the easily foreseeable future. But against the criteria that humans use to judge each other, bacteria are not very impressive. They are not smart, good looking, rich, or good at basketball. And they are not conscious of either their external environment or of themselves. But the importance to us of these criteria does not justify their use to judge the evolutionary success of all organisms.