Expert: Walter Hintz - 11/7/2006

Question
Does evolution through natural selection produce "better" organisms in the absolute sense? Are we climbing the "ladder of nature"?  

Answer
Hi Sonya
"better" is a relative term so perhaps the term successful would be more appropriate, successful meaning that the organism is better able to survive in a competitive situation.  That is the premise of natural selection.
Your terminology "the ladder of nature " is interesting.  We consider ourselves the epitome of speciation but because of our foolish activities with our environment we may just fall off of that ladder.