Degenerative Compensation

Degenerative Compensation is a key theory proposed by philosopher Wang Dongyue in his book The Theory of Evolution. The theory posits that the more primitive and simple a species or entity is, the higher its degree of existence; conversely, the more advanced and complex a species or entity becomes, the lower its degree of existence. This declining trend in existential stability is referred to as "degenerative" (di rěi). To compensate for this decreasing degree of existence, later-stage entities develop new capabilities or structures to maintain their stability and continuity—this adaptive process is known as "compensation" (dai chang). In short, as things evolve, they become increasingly complex and fragile, and must develop new abilities to offset their growing vulnerabilities in order to survive.

1. Humans learned to cook food with fire, making it easier to digest, but this also led to more delicate digestive systems, rendering raw foods harder to tolerate than for our ancestors. Cooking serves as a compensation for digestion difficulties, while digestive capacity itself has degenerated.
2. Humans invented cars, enabling faster and more convenient travel, but this has also contributed to a further decline in physical fitness. The automobile (compensation) satisfies the need for long-distance mobility, yet human physiological function (existence degree) has weakened as a result.

1. The more developed and complex an entity becomes, the lower its degree of existence and the more fragile it is.
2. To counteract this fragility, entities evolve new compensatory capabilities.
3. While compensation brings convenience, it may also lead to further degradation of original abilities (compensatory degeneration).
4. One should remain cautious of foundational skills that, though masked by compensatory tools, remain vital to survival and well-being.
5. When utilizing compensation, it is important to reflect on which abilities can be safely diminished and to what extent.