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Dry_vby
Skeptic Friend
Australia
249 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2005 : 21:56:01
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I can groove on that whole evolution thing, but what I was wondering is this.
Has evolution in regards the homo erectus/ homo sapien/ human being reached a dead end?
Is it now only a matter of us evolving into our technology?
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"I'll go along with the charade
Until I can think my way out.
I know it was all a big joke
Whatever it was about."
Bob Dylan
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2005 : 23:36:51 [Permalink]
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This has been argued many times, here and elsewhere, to no real conclusion. Thus, I can only give an opinion.
Evolution never rests. One might, and some have, used the coelacanth as an example of evolution stopping, but even those creatures that are called "living fossils" have evolved a bit from their ancient forms to suit the envrionmental niche they occupy. As that niche has subtly changed, so have they.
We too, will continue to evolve for as long as we last, although in what ways I cannot predict, nor, I think, can anyone else.
And there is always that grim reminder: the untimate fate of all species is extinction....
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2005 : 23:59:10 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by filthy
...And there is always that grim reminder: the untimate fate of all species is extinction....
Yup. But, if you want to be an optimist of sorts, even the fact that eventually, all species become extinct, including us; it's just Nature making room for next year's model.   |
Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:15:36 [Permalink]
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quote:
Has evolution in regards the homo erectus/ homo sapien/ human being reached a dead end?
Is it now only a matter of us evolving into our technology?
Assuming of course that you actually have access to this technology. Most people don't. Most people go to bed hungry and get diseases you have never heard of. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
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Dry_vby
Skeptic Friend
Australia
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:33:02 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Hawks
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Has evolution in regards the homo erectus/ homo sapien/ human being reached a dead end?
Is it now only a matter of us evolving into our technology?
Assuming of course that you actually have access to this technology. Most people don't. Most people go to bed hungry and get diseases you have never heard of.
[/quote]
So, your answer to the second question would be "No", then?
What have diseases, or whether I've heard about them got to do with anything? |
"I'll go along with the charade
Until I can think my way out.
I know it was all a big joke
Whatever it was about."
Bob Dylan
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:45:18 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dry_vby
What have diseases, or whether I've heard about them got to do with anything?
Diseases would be one example of a selection pressure.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
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Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 19:40:53 [Permalink]
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quote:
Diseases would be one example of a selection pressure.
This is precisely what I meant. People like ourselves that live in first world countries (with all our facilities and drugs) are probably less subjected to selective pressures than people living in third world countries. Maybe, then, the populations of poor nations can be expected to evolve faster. (Also, if you are in a third world country, there would be little technology to evolve into anyhow.)
Sidenote: Speaking of countries: While holidaying in the Rockies (Banff, Canada) last christmas I phoned up a ski rental place and asked (by mistake, HONESTLY) if they rented out cross cunty skis. This still gives my wife the giggles. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 21:43:20 [Permalink]
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| Kurt Vonnegut has often suggested that human extinction will come in the form of a virus or bacteria. In his novel Galapagos, humanity goes extinct due to a disease that infects all human eggs, and thus, no one can reproduce anymore. But it isn't the end of the line for humans because a handful (the cast of characters in the story) end up stranded on one of the Galapagos Islands right before the shit hits the fan, and over a million years they evolve into something similar to seals. (I haven't really ruined the story for anyone who hasn't read it, since he makes this part of the story clear early on and the real story is about the people who get stranded. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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Dry_vby
Skeptic Friend
Australia
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2005 : 21:51:17 [Permalink]
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Indeed, an excelant read, as are all of Vonneguts work.
"Cats cradle" also has an interesting perspective. |
"I'll go along with the charade
Until I can think my way out.
I know it was all a big joke
Whatever it was about."
Bob Dylan
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