Base on this, "Man" is the same
You are right that things don't progress from simple to complex. It goes against physicals and thermal dynamics. Things go from complex to less complex, not the other way around. Or, from less intelligence to more intelligence. Just look at mankind right now. We've gone from clearly defining what a woman is to not knowing what a woman is.
Let's go to the real topic, evolution. You try to dance around the real use of the word evolution. You know that when atheists and secularists speak of evolution of the species, they are talking specifically about mankind. There is no evidence that mankind has evolved from apes. No missing link. The statements that chimps are 98% that of human chromosomes is also found now to be a complete lie. Yet, it's still used as fact.
Here's a shocker. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe we have evolved and will continue to evolve. Here is the evolution: We were once pure intelligence (energy). Our Father and Mother in Heaven are able to procreate forever. Their children come out with bodies of much finer material than earthly bodies. They are spirit children. Billions, maybe trillion of us. Placed into those spirit bodies are the pure intelligences. So, now there are more complexed life forms. But, we could not progress to be like our Heavenly parents without being resurrect glorified beings like they are. So, this universe with this earth, and other worlds, were created to give our spirit bodies a physical body to learn to control the body, parts and passions of earthly physical bodies. We went from pre-earth life to earth life. For those that come to an age of accountability, they will be tested on development of "faith" in our God. Through Jesus Christ's atonement, as we make mistakes called sin, if we repent, we can be forgiven and receive our reward of glorified Celestial bodies, Terrestrial Bodies or Telestial bodies (Sun, Moon, Stars 1Corinthians chapter 15). There, we will progress in those glories. But, only in the Celestial Kingdom will we progress or evolve into glorified beings like our Heavenly Parents. We will be given our own universes to continue to evolution of intelligences. You won't find another religion that teaches these truths.
Now, what about the animals? Well, they too have spirit bodies with intelligences in them as well. However, those intelligences are more limited and thus have been placed in animals here on earth and other worlds. Thus, secular Darwinism type of evolution is not possible with animals. No matter how many hundreds of thousands or millions of year of life, they will never become humans. As we saw with the story of Jesus and the swine. The animals could not handle the greater intelligences of the devil spirit children that were cast out of heaven (one-third).
