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by anonporridge
1696 days ago
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Can you explain what you mean by "natural selection is a cultural myth"? It is possible that we can "naturally" evolve to live far beyond our individual fertility, and humans did live long before civilization. Complex species like humans require a ton of knowledge and skill training. Old and experienced people can be incredibly valuable to a tribe if they can teach and care for the young, even if they can no longer reproduce themselves. It's not enough to just squirt out offspring. You need to invest in them so they can become successful enough to squirt out their own. There are other examples like this. Like why various types of animals having warning calls for predators. These things don't make sense for an individual to develop, because the warning call actually draws the predator's attention to the individual making it. The best thing for the individual to do is stay quiet and hide. But the call increases the fitness of the individual's kin, so the trait survives. Homosexuality might be another instance of this, the "gay uncle" theory. Similar to the reason we live long after fertility, a tribe with a minority of young non reproducing members can be helpful for taking care of and training the children. It's called kin selection, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_selection |
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there is no doubt on that, we're evolving, we're even able to trace some minor genetic evolutions over the 7k last years. but the cultural myth of "natural selection" or "naturally" evolving is in the question : what is "natural" and by extension, what is'nt ? kin evolution or social behaviors always end up as reproduction success, and the failure to do so, "naturally" or "artificially" end up in extinction, that's all. there is nothing specifically "natural" or "artificial" here. when talking about genetics the involved time scales badly fit cultural consideration like thoses. it is not less "natural" to gain reproductive success by genetic intervention than without, unless you are able to explain what is this "nature". or in other words : there is nothing to bypass unless you'r able to say/describe/explain what :)