Back to Methuselah

"Back to Methuselah. A Metabiological Pentateuch" is a monumental series of five plays by the celebrated dramatist Bernard Shaw, exploring the philosophical concept of Creative Evolution. Moving through vast stretches of time, the work begins in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and concludes in a distant future where humanity has evolved beyond physical constraints. Shaw uses this ambitious framework to argue that the human lifespan is too short for individuals to gain the wisdom necessary for effective self-governance, suggesting that through the force of will, humanity must extend its life to hundreds of years.

Spanning from the dawn of creation to the year 31,920 AD, this "metabiological pentateuch" blends science fiction, satire, and social commentary. It stands as one of Shaw's most profound intellectual achievements, challenging readers and audiences to reconsider the potential of the human spirit and the biological destiny of the species. With its sharp wit and visionary scope, "Back to Methuselah" remains a significant contribution to early twentieth-century literature and a thought-provoking meditation on the intersection of biology and philosophy.

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