Human evolution has been the subject of debate for just about the entirety of its existence. It has been discussed, argued, and criticized for centuries. But where to now? Has the human race reached the point in its development at which it no longer reacts to its environment, changing according to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, but changes its environment to suit itself? Think about it. At one stage, if something stopped humans from achieving something, then it would direct human development according to how successful we were at achieving it. Now, we simply create something that will achieve it for us. The reason we are considered the most intelligent race on earth we must remember, is our ability to create machines.
The theory of natural selection still applies to everything else, but not humans (well not anymore anyway). If we don’t like something, then we change it so that we do. Similarly, we have reached a point in medicinal progression at which we can now cure just about every disease that would otherwise affect the course of human development. This obviously has a similar effect. However, this has a less noticeable effect on developing countries, for obvious reasons.
But, is this necessarily a good thing? It is through our ability to alter our environment in order to stop it from affecting us that we are potentially growing into a weaker race. Diseases that at one stage would have run the course of natural selection (sorting the men from the boys so to speak), are now simply killed off, because we can. Obviously this is a good thing in terms of our general development, and it allows us to continually increase things such as life expectancy and the like.
However, this lack of effective natural selection (particularly in developed countries), is likely to be countered in a number of ways, including the continual immigration of developing peoples into industrial communities, and future use of genetic manipulation and intentional breeding. So there’s not a lot to be worried about. Apparently.
As always, it’s been a pleasure to empty the contents of my mind onto the floor, sort them out and provide you with the interesting bits. If you have any thoughts on the matter, or any discussions that you would like to be raised in the future, please leave a comment. Thanks
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hello and thanks for the invite to follow your blog! You have some very worthy topics here! I will come back to read... Have a great day!
ReplyDeletethank you =]
ReplyDeleteif you have any suggestions on further topics, or anything else, just give us a shout.
and you too. =]
I would recommend that you read some literature on evolution before making a blanket statement when natural selection is still a force acting upon us humans.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution#Contemporary_human_evolution
look i am no expert on the matter, I did say it depended very much on the state of the area tho. i.e developing vs developed communities.
ReplyDeletethe effect of natural selection, not excluding the factors mentioned in that link, would again vary slightly across the world, as referred to. The article even says that not all are effected by that kuru disease.
naturaly there are going to be exceptions however, as you are right to point out
i was simply putting forward my knowledge, but thankyou for the advice I will be sure to further research my future topics before laying out my view.
is there anything you want me to write about specifically?
I was merely suggesting that though we may not be in a way acted upon by the forces of nature as we have been before, but our changing of nature does create new forces that act upon. Say we change X of nature to suit Y in humans, we then unwittingly select humans with Y to prosper faster than those without Y. Or if the change in X is suited for Y humans but some have Z, which is more efficient at harvesting the benefits of the new X, then Z humans will outprosper the Y's and we have Z humanity.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting topic nonetheless, I was merely suggesting that there would be criticism to your view as I remember somewhere in a science magazine that humans are still evolving and at an amazing rate (if I find it I will send it to you).
But it was a good post, so don't get me wrong, I was merely pointing out opposing views :P
yes if you find it do send it through, it sounds interesting. And yeah thats fair enough, i'm sure alot of people would have criticism of my view =P
ReplyDeleteand thanks =P haha
There is also plenty of arguments supporting humans evolving socio-economically. Privilege is inherited among the wealthy. For example wealthy children receive better educations. With the upcoming advancement in gene technology, it is possible that the wealthy will genetically evolve, and the less wealthy will remain the same. This will lead to further privilege inheritance, possibly ending in two separate classes of humans. This may be a stretch but just saying I don't believe our evolution has halted in any way.
ReplyDeleteYou address some very interesting topics and I personally enjoy the way in which you portray your opinions. Thanks for inviting me to take a look at your blog, I shall be following you from now on :)
ReplyDeleteThank you kirsty, and hopefully we can help kill off some of the unneeded hate going around the net at the moment.
ReplyDeletejust a question. how are you following? you havent registered as a follower hahah.
I apologise! I had clicked to follow you but did not see that I had another window open up for me to confirm! Damn us newbies eh? :P
ReplyDeleteHopefully we can indeed, blogging should be a chance for people to have a form of escape, not just another place for hiding away through fear of certain people!
hahah yess.
ReplyDeleteyou will be pleased to know several people have been contacted with regards to several specific users. no names named or anything, but I have attempted to make a start
very pleased indeed! Hats off to you Sir.
ReplyDeleteI have to say this is a thought path I have trod many times, the moment we brought medicine about we really stopped natural selection in its true form. I have to debate though that there is nothing to worry about, just because science can alter things doesn’t mean society will allow it. When I’ve voiced this view people seem to get upset, though I guess I go about the solution in a different way, I think there should be breeding licenses. That’s not to say I don’t think everybody should have kids, there is always adoption or what have you, but sometimes genes and dieses just shouldn’t be passed on.
ReplyDeletei understand where you're coming from. personally i do not see the need for "breeding licenses" as such, but there may be a more efficient way of dealing with the issue you have raised. not to say i have any ideas, but i'm sure it is being discussed as we speak.
ReplyDelete