Homo evolutis

[Minimalist]

There are definitely genes that lead to more breeding then others amoungst humans today.

If there is a stupid gene you might have a point.  That was the basis for the movie, Idiocracy.

[Edwardo Piet]

If things continue as they are I think we are slowly learning to become dependent on  technology.

What about Homo Techno Dependicus Dependicus?

We've been dependent on technology since at least when we first adopted a lifestyle that relied on man made stone tools.

True enough but not the sort of technology I meant.

I mean... I see our future as being us letting machines do all the work for us... until one day they even feed us and exercise us and we just plug into virtual reality machines all day.

[Edwardo Piet]

That's if we don't destroy ourselves wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy before that of course.

It's either WW3 of Brave New World I say.

[Anomalocaris]

We are doomed the moment machines figure out we are nothing more than high maintenance irksome dead weight. When that happens we would all look like Donald trump to the machines.

[RozKek]

We've been dependent on technology since at least when we first adopted a lifestyle that relied on man made stone tools.

True enough but not the sort of technology I meant.

I mean... I see our future as being us letting machines do all the work for us... until one day they even feed us and exercise us and we just plug into virtual reality machines all day.

This is what I strongly dislike. I'd rather die before this happens. But I don't think this will happen, it's not as if no one else dislikes that idea too, we'll probably prevent it from happening together, especially when experts warn us.

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm sure I'd feel that way... until I was plugged in.

I know it has a weird sort of creepy dread to the idea.

I think if that happens we will devolve, we will become less intelligent because our intelligence won't be necessary for our survival or reproduction (machines will take care of our reproduction too ).

[RozKek]

I'm sure I'd feel that way... until I was plugged in.

I know it has a weird sort of creepy dread to the idea.

I think if that happens we will devolve, we will become less intelligent because our intelligence won't be necessary for our survival or reproduction (machines will take care of our reproduction too ).

The problem for me is those things are very valuable to me, I wouldn't accept it. I'd rather have it everyone has a good life with VR being optional rather than essential or the main purpose of life.

[paulpablo]

What do you think of the idea that we are evolving into a new species named Homo evolutis ? The first species to take command of it's own evolutionary future? I can think of one simple proof this may be happening. Vaccination against disease. Is modern medicine our extended phenotype?

There isn't any selection happening by way of vaccination.  Everyone gets vaccinated, accept the conspiracy theorists.  Furthermore there is no breeding advantage involved for either the vaccinated or the unvaccinated.  Presently those who breed the most tend to be those living in under-developed countries with the highest infant mortality.  Education is negatively associated with family size in developed countries.  It is hard to see how natural selection can function in the current population in the developed world, though if some especially deadly virus broke out of something like ebola we might discover pockets of immunity.  That would be evolution in progress.

How could natural selection not function in the developed world?

[chimp3]

There isn't any selection happening by way of vaccination.  Everyone gets vaccinated, accept the conspiracy theorists.  Furthermore there is no breeding advantage involved for either the vaccinated or the unvaccinated.  Presently those who breed the most tend to be those living in under-developed countries with the highest infant mortality.  Education is negatively associated with family size in developed countries.  It is hard to see how natural selection can function in the current population in the developed world, though if some especially deadly virus broke out of something like ebola we might discover pockets of immunity.  That would be evolution in progress.

How could natural selection not function in the developed world?

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/c.../1499/1939

The claims are made for improving stone technologies co-related with evolutionary changes in brain structure. Why not with modern technologies ?

[Ben Davis]