Society preventing further evolution?

[-AnEnima-]

Apart from resistance to certain diseases, do you feel that modern society discourages evolution? Since 'survival of the fittest' isn't particularly relevant anymore, "good genes" are passed on just as much as "bad genes". I'm not saying it's come to a complete standstill, but we no longer have as much a need to adapt to our environments.

Thoughts?

[K Scott]

I'm no expert on evolution and it's principles, but the way I see it is that animals have always had to change and evolve to suit the changing environment. But now that humans have real technology, we can create our own adaptations with things we can make.

For example, say somehow all of the earths temperatures dramatically dropped to the point where you can't even be outside for more than a few hours at a time. In today's world we would be able to adapt ourselves by staying inside and using heating systems. Basicly we can emulate ideal conditions and therefore there is no need for our body's to evolve if we can always have these ideal conditions. But if this happened and humans didnt have modern day technology, I would assume that we would maybe start growing hair all over our bodies again to stay warm.

Like I said, I dont really know a whole lot about evolution principles, but its just a theory.

[-AnEnima-]

Originally Posted by K Scott

I'm no expert on evolution and it's principles, but the way I see it is that animals have always had to change and evolve to suit the changing environment. But now that humans have real technology, we can create our own adaptations with things we can make.

For example, say somehow all of the earths temperatures dramatically dropped to the point where you can't even be outside for more than a few hours at a time. In today's world we would be able to adapt ourselves by staying inside and using heating systems. Basicly we can emulate ideal conditions and therefore there is no need for our body's to evolve if we can always have these ideal conditions. But if this happened and humans didnt have modern day technology, I would assume that we would maybe start growing hair all over our bodies again to stay warm.

Like I said, I dont really know a whole lot about evolution principles, but its just a theory.

That's my point.

[MR.Kitty55]

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. society takes away pain, people become weak and stupid and mass produce.

Think Wall-e (If you've seen it)

[ThePrince]

Technology will allow humans to control our own evolution with genetic engineering, cybernetics, intelligence enhancement etc. I can't believe nobody mentioned this, just parroted the usual bullshit like a bunch of brainwashed sheep.

Totse is the last place I'd expect to see such things.

[MR.Kitty55]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

Technology will allow humans to control our own evolution with genetic engineering, cybernetics, intelligence enhancement etc. I can't believe nobody mentioned this, just parroted the usual bullshit like a bunch of brainwashed sheep.

Totse is the last place I'd expect to see such things.

Last I looked around this country is just full of stupid fucking worthless people. Theres nothing to kill off the dumb masses and due to our "fantastic democracy" there will never be ANY limit on birth or reproduction (excluding abortion) that will keep dumb, fat, stupid motherfuckers from breeding at an alarming rate. Maybe there will be an influx of "genetically superior" people but to think that they will take over the world is just stupid.

Intelligence enhancement? The majority of the world doesn't even get basic schooling and your talking about providing them intelligence enhancement? Get real, theres no money in that.

I think Carlin hits this topic perfectly. (Below)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ssPhXuH-JU
The stupid masses will always breed in extreme numbers. There is NO check on that. If we really wanted to control our own evolution we could easily do it through eugencis, but that will never happen.

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by MR.Kitty55

Last I looked around this country is just full of stupid fucking worthless people. Theres nothing to kill off the dumb masses and due to our "fantastic democracy" there will never be ANY limit on birth or reproduction (excluding abortion) that will keep dumb, fat, stupid motherfuckers from breeding at an alarming rate. Maybe there will be an influx of "genetically superior" people but to think that they will take over the world is just stupid.

Intelligence enhancement? The majority of the world doesn't even get basic schooling and your talking about providing them intelligence enhancement? Get real, theres no money in that.

Hey dumbass, average IQ has been increasing over the years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

There goes your entire argument.

I think Carlin hits this topic perfectly. (Below)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ssPhXuH-JU
The stupid masses will always breed in extreme numbers. There is NO check on that. If we really wanted to control our own evolution we could easily do it through eugencis, but that will never happen.

Please don't quote a fucking stand-up comedian to bolster your argument. Eugenics is an extremely crude tool that completely ignores the possibilities of near future technologies. It's worthless. Stop trying to be a Nietzschean Superman. You fail at it.

[Q]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

Technology will allow humans to control our own evolution with genetic engineering, cybernetics, intelligence enhancement etc. I can't believe nobody mentioned this, just parroted the usual bullshit like a bunch of brainwashed sheep.

Totse is the last place I'd expect to see such things.

In what period of time do you expect humans to reach the level of technological sophistication required to accurately and safely integrate artificial devices into their physiology and accurately target codon sequences?

Taking into account the fact that there are obstacles such as cost, religion, environmentalism, political agenda, war, natural disaster and technological limitations such as the Casimir effect restricting nanotechnology?

And what is your idea of "intelligence enhancement"?

[MR.Kitty55]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

Hey dumbass, average IQ has been increasing over the years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

There goes your entire argument.

How does that detract from my point that stupid and worthless people are still continuing to exist without any barriers?

And read your own article...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_e...ssion_ended.3F

"Test scores are certainly going up all over the world, but whether intelligence itself has risen remains controversial"

I'm glad to see that test scores have become the benchmark for societal progression...

Originally Posted by ThePrince

Eugenics is an extremely crude tool that completely ignores the possibilities of near future technologies. It's worthless.

Preventing certain people from breeding or just preventing breeding in general could be extremely effective in making life for the living much better. Your lack of an argument against eugenics isn't very effective.

And like I said, regardless of technology that arises there are still going to be stupid people having stupid kids. Do you really think that the average person can afford genetic enhancement for their child when 50 million people in America can't even afford healthcare?

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by MR.Kitty55

How does that detract from my point that stupid and worthless people are still continuing to exist without any barriers?

Because if modern civilization has caused the intelligence of the average person to rise, than they aren't exactly 'stupid' are they?

And read your own article...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_e...ssion_ended.3F

"Test scores are certainly going up all over the world, but whether intelligence itself has risen remains controversial"

I'm glad to see that test scores have become the benchmark for societal progression...

IQ is the best statistic I know of for estimating intelligence. I guess you'd just prefer to throw around loaded subjective terms like 'stupid' and 'worthless'.

Preventing certain people from breeding or just preventing breeding in general could be extremely effective in making life for the living much better. Your lack of an argument against eugenics isn't very effective.

Except it would take a long time to have much effect, could result in inbreeding, seems more suited for a totalitarian state than a decent place to live. Allowing people to use technology to upgrade themselves is just more efficient and would produce greater gains in intelligence than eugenics ever would.

And like I said, regardless of technology that arises there are still going to be stupid people having stupid kids. Do you really think that the average person can afford genetic enhancement for their child when 50 million people in America can't even afford healthcare?

In the future, sure. The overall trend has been for medical costs to go down and technology to grow. I see no reason why this trend should magically halt.