(no subject)
This post is a response to Liz's epiphany. It was supposed to be a comment on her post, but it's way too long. Subjects upcoming include: Nature of species, human use of technology, order and chaos and their role in our universe (randomly), platonic forms, the effects of culture and technology on human evolution, Roman ruling the world. I dont really discuss any in full depth, I just wrote as it came to my head, and my attention span doesnt synch up with my ponderous typing.
Domestication of animals brings up several issues with regard to the definition of species and subspecies. Many breeds of dog are the end result of centuries of breeding programs. Is a Great Dane the same animal as a Chihuahua? There is little chance they could naturally reproduce, their bodies are incompatible. This is possible with humans, except we are on a "everyone lives" schtick. As for the question as to whether or not we are evolving, the answer is yes, of course we are. However, the pressures on humans are completely different from all other animals in that we are very good at using tools, and we are very good at using representations. For example, cave paintings progressed into written word, which progressed into computer code. We are very good at dealing with abstracts, at creating order in a chaotic universe. The natural world craves a low energy state, it is naturally random and at a low energy state. It follows concrete laws, which define how randomness can be expressed. These rules are in balance with the drive for low energy in the natural world, expressing themselves in a handfull of ideal forms. A spiral, for example. Pinecones, tornadoes, DNA, galaxies, seashells. Toilets. Relationships. Everywhere, the same forms come up, in endless variation, in endless repetition. But I've gotten off track. Respond if more rants about order and chaos are in order. Aha. Get it?
Evolution and humans. Humans create their environments, and therefore, the next logical conclusion seems to be that people have stopped evolving. But in reality, we haven't. Some people still reproduce more than others, and therefore evolution is still going strong. However, it has a differentiating quality, driven by the differances in the enviroments we create around us. Instead of survival of the fittest, it becomes a matter of culture. However, whenever culture interferes with the evolution of a species, very interesting things begin to come into light. Baboons with red asses, peacocks, birdsong. All of which are physical traits refined by interations of social networks.
Romans predictions for human evolution:
1. Hotter and healthier people, overall. In vitro fertilization will blast off in the near future, giving rise to a Gattaca-like race of super-healthy people. If given the ability, wouldn't you want your child to be good looking, strong, smart, and free of genetic desease. Wouldnt you give them every advantage you can? In vitro fertilisation and screening for various genetic deseases has become commonplace in situations where both parents are the carriers of recessive genes, its only a matter of time before it becomes the only logical way to have a baby. The "old fashioned" way will be looked at as insane and irresponsible. Not that that will stop people from having sex. So the people will get hotter, and will live longer. (Of course, "hotter" is a cultural description, as many cultures have differing views of beauty. So maybe people will diffentiate according to culture, and we will have breeds of people like we have breeds of dogs. Racism will have a logical foothold at last. I'm not advocating racism, this situation is a long long time away, in a hypothetical world where our species doesnt kill itself. [I'm betting on survival, though. At least for those who can afford it. We've put people in space, for cristsake. There is a very strong drive to survive, and some very smart people out there.]) Epitomes of exquisite beauty will exist, through carefull manipulations. The geniuses, the giants, and the gorgeous.
2. Maybe a differentiation of depending on class. At first, only the rich will be able to afford genetic advantages. But societies have a way of remixing classes when the differances between two groups of people becomes too great, revolutions and whatnot. It's like a subconcious social hive mind.
3. Less hair. We dont need it as much anymore. However, all things have a purpose, and losing hair means more exposure, and a new weakness arises. For example, we gradually have been getting paler, as the shelters we have built over millenia reduced the need for blocking the sun's radiation. But now, when you take away that protection, we are more vulnerable than ever. We cannot last a day in the desert, we are a weak species. We get sunburns after a half hour at the beach. The reason we have hair on our heads and genetalia is that those organs, the nervous system and the reproductive system, most directly affect our chances of passing on our own personal contribution to the future, out children.
4. Roman's head rules the world. Its science.
Domestication of animals brings up several issues with regard to the definition of species and subspecies. Many breeds of dog are the end result of centuries of breeding programs. Is a Great Dane the same animal as a Chihuahua? There is little chance they could naturally reproduce, their bodies are incompatible. This is possible with humans, except we are on a "everyone lives" schtick. As for the question as to whether or not we are evolving, the answer is yes, of course we are. However, the pressures on humans are completely different from all other animals in that we are very good at using tools, and we are very good at using representations. For example, cave paintings progressed into written word, which progressed into computer code. We are very good at dealing with abstracts, at creating order in a chaotic universe. The natural world craves a low energy state, it is naturally random and at a low energy state. It follows concrete laws, which define how randomness can be expressed. These rules are in balance with the drive for low energy in the natural world, expressing themselves in a handfull of ideal forms. A spiral, for example. Pinecones, tornadoes, DNA, galaxies, seashells. Toilets. Relationships. Everywhere, the same forms come up, in endless variation, in endless repetition. But I've gotten off track. Respond if more rants about order and chaos are in order. Aha. Get it?
Evolution and humans. Humans create their environments, and therefore, the next logical conclusion seems to be that people have stopped evolving. But in reality, we haven't. Some people still reproduce more than others, and therefore evolution is still going strong. However, it has a differentiating quality, driven by the differances in the enviroments we create around us. Instead of survival of the fittest, it becomes a matter of culture. However, whenever culture interferes with the evolution of a species, very interesting things begin to come into light. Baboons with red asses, peacocks, birdsong. All of which are physical traits refined by interations of social networks.
Romans predictions for human evolution:
1. Hotter and healthier people, overall. In vitro fertilization will blast off in the near future, giving rise to a Gattaca-like race of super-healthy people. If given the ability, wouldn't you want your child to be good looking, strong, smart, and free of genetic desease. Wouldnt you give them every advantage you can? In vitro fertilisation and screening for various genetic deseases has become commonplace in situations where both parents are the carriers of recessive genes, its only a matter of time before it becomes the only logical way to have a baby. The "old fashioned" way will be looked at as insane and irresponsible. Not that that will stop people from having sex. So the people will get hotter, and will live longer. (Of course, "hotter" is a cultural description, as many cultures have differing views of beauty. So maybe people will diffentiate according to culture, and we will have breeds of people like we have breeds of dogs. Racism will have a logical foothold at last. I'm not advocating racism, this situation is a long long time away, in a hypothetical world where our species doesnt kill itself. [I'm betting on survival, though. At least for those who can afford it. We've put people in space, for cristsake. There is a very strong drive to survive, and some very smart people out there.]) Epitomes of exquisite beauty will exist, through carefull manipulations. The geniuses, the giants, and the gorgeous.
2. Maybe a differentiation of depending on class. At first, only the rich will be able to afford genetic advantages. But societies have a way of remixing classes when the differances between two groups of people becomes too great, revolutions and whatnot. It's like a subconcious social hive mind.
3. Less hair. We dont need it as much anymore. However, all things have a purpose, and losing hair means more exposure, and a new weakness arises. For example, we gradually have been getting paler, as the shelters we have built over millenia reduced the need for blocking the sun's radiation. But now, when you take away that protection, we are more vulnerable than ever. We cannot last a day in the desert, we are a weak species. We get sunburns after a half hour at the beach. The reason we have hair on our heads and genetalia is that those organs, the nervous system and the reproductive system, most directly affect our chances of passing on our own personal contribution to the future, out children.
4. Roman's head rules the world. Its science.