Expand sense of technology a bit to mean the part of culture through which human beings use and adapt to their physical environment. Reach highest sustainable quality of life. But looking at whole society, Q is what is sustainable in that environment. Idea 1 Environment is often so powerful compared to people's power to alter the environment that people must adapt or dwindle and die. Malaria endemic for very long time in belt across central Africa.
Malaria parasite flourishes only in healthy red blood.
Adaptation of people who live in malaria belt is genetically to evolve toward unhealthy red blood cells, called sickle cells. Malaria does poorly in sickle cells. No reproductive advantage where little malaria, so folks from central Africa lost reproductive advantage when forceably taken away as slaves. In this example, adaptation is accomplished through genetic mutation and reproductive advantage of the genetic variation that is best adapted. Idea 2 Culture is highly effective means of adaptation.