At first, evolution proceeded by natural selection, from random mutations. This Darwinian phase, lasted about three and a half billion years, and produced us, beings who developed language, to exchange information. But what distinguishes us from our cave man ancestors is the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last ten thousand years, and particularly, over the last three hundred.
The time scale for evolution, in the external transmission period, has collapsed to about 50 years, or less.
Which means I will get smarter/wiser every day I am here on earth....deal...