October 26, 2007
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Consequences of Evolution in Everyday Life
So just for fun (fake, thinking fun, not true, party fun, ha), I decided to think about evolution. I loosely define evolution to be the belief that somehow objects in nature can change their fundamental behaviors and exteriors in response to their environment. (Oh no, that's probably a terrible definition, but let it go for now). What does it mean to your every day life if you assume that this belief is true? How would I live differently if I believed in evolution as a natural rule governing the development of life, TODAY (as opposed to just when humans originated)?
Does it mean that the way we are, right now, is an optimal response to our environment given our characteristics and genetics? So to some extent, I achieve perfection as compared to a certain set of circumstances, and then entropy occurs, my perfection decays, and I have to re-evolve to meet changes in conditions? Does it mean that we should not oppose change in others, even if those changes appear wicked, since poor behavior now may just be the beginning of an evolution into a better state later? Does it mean that we ourselves should not change until we absolutely have to or circumstances force us to change? After all, it sounds like the changes themselves occur due to an inward understanding of the organism that evolution is necessary to survive, right? Or is it just random chance; I evolve, you evolve, and when change happens, one of us is better prepared to handle that change than others? Anyway, it's fun to sit down and think about how scientific or economic principles may affect everyday life.
Comments (10)
You raised a lot of good philosophical questions. I've always wondered why, if we evolved from monkeys, monkeys still exist. Did the less adept ones not evolve? And shouldn't there be some creatures in the transitory state between monkey and man? I do believe in micro-evolution, but macro-evolution just doesn't make sense to me.
I just want to know why monkeys don't have beards.
If I believed in evolution as a natural rule governing the development of life, I would either A) try to impregnate as many women as possible, while convincing them to bear and raise the babies, or B) use my sentience to conclude that my genetic contribution is probably too flawed to justify passing on (possible carrier for diabetes, possible carrier for Alzheimer's, not athletic) and thus suicide or vasectomy my way out of the gene pool for the good of the species.
What I wonder is why...if we evolved from monkeys...are there still so many monkeys? Wouldn't "we" all have evolved by now to master the conditions of the environment?
That said, I think the idea of evolution is a slow, gradual change over the course of much time, not an instantaneous type thing that would happen based on conditions. For example if conditions changed, you probably wouldn't notice a huge change in a person, but a gradual one that might not be complete until your kids kids or something. It would also be something that would happen to everyone around you since we are all in the same conditions. So for example, everyone in MN and up in the colder states might eventually start to form a coat of fur to protect us from the cold elements.
I think what you talked about was more of adapting which is part of the evolutionary belief, but that is part that is believable...
Why would I put them up if they're embarrassing?
encouragement is apparently not your strong points, but I suppose your sense of humor makes up for it.
How is life? I never really know from your posts.
Your understanding of evolution says that the individual changes to adapt to the environment. Which is correct, but doesn't paint the whole picture: it sounds as though evolution is an option, something that can be rationally chosen, not something that happens on a non-conscious level.
That said, I think you've given me a new perspective on what wisdom is and how it develops.
Your post just suppressed my genetic potential for the next million years. Thanks a lot, jerkface.
Trevor77, Galumph: Your points are valid; I did leave open the possibility that evolution can either be controlled by the organism or can happen in nearly real-time. But I'm sure that some evolutionists would agree that those actions are possible, especially in high-level sentinent beings like you and me.
ha.
galumph: new perspective? me? (blushes) Sounds cool, what did I do? Or is it one of those "He's so stupid I can't say it out loud" deals? :-p
Ninjitsuknifer: And you had so much genetic potential, too! Unibrow mongoloids are hot right now :-p
aliveuntouchable: Life = terrible. Simple enough? :-p
ChrisRusso: I'm arrogant enough to say (A) for now if those are the only two choices :-p but think of the child support payments!
I think one of the consequences of evolution in everyday life is that we would all embrace the "end justifies the means" philosophy. Who cares if you step on the next guy if by so doing you can benefit yourself? Some could argue that selflessness is really what is better for all of us, but from the perspective of the individual (the one I think you are taking here), selflessness is definitely not the way to go if your aim is being fit enough to survive. In the short run, which is really all we have here on earth for now, selfishness is a much surer way to give yourself a chance to evolve to a higher level.
I think.
LOL.
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