Evolution, as we have already learned, is a very slow process. More than that, "has to" doesn't equate to "will". It's not to say that humanity has grim future - it's to say that it won't happen unless required actions are taken, and maybe, for us, those actions are spreading knowledge to reveal and abolish ignorance, even if a step at a time. "Us", in this case, being not a sort of the elite knowledgeable, but any person who knows something others don't.

most people are doing whatever they want

From what I've learned so far, this is simply not true. Doing whatever you want is a privilege for a human being, not a common way. We're all controlled by fears and instincts most of the time, and even the most knowledgeable and resilient of us can last for so long at a time before needing to rest. Most often, we abide by the unrecognized laws of our subconscious which dictates how we react to this or that without us having to spend time and effort figuring the situation out consciously. It is why many people spend years of their lives in an office instead of pursuing their passions, whatever those are: we're all afraid of being misunderstood ("You have a wonderful job which pays for incredible luxury - what's not to like?!"), of being alienated from the tribe we're in ("If that loony is going to quit his job, we're done: that would be a step too crazy") or of being unloved or hated.

For all our progress in science and philosophy, we're still mostly animals. It doesn't make us better or worse, but recognizing this fact whenever we work with other humans - and ourselves as we introspect - makes those who do wiser to the circumstances.