Atheism and Hope

[The Grand Nudger]

It has been mentioned that social darwinism is irrational and abhorrent by another commenter in this thread. I, too, used to hold these positions. I earnestly want to be shown how this is so. I want to be wrong. Yet, merely claiming that I am mentally ill and thus the position is compromised does not constitute demonstrating how these claims are invalid. That is, respectfully, an ad hominem. I am mentally ill, depressed, but I can still be right about claims and I believe, until shown otherwise, that these claims are correct.

It -was- invalidated, completely, just a few posts back, if you're using evolution as justification. Evolution does not lead to social darwinism, it does not provide the means by which to make those proclamations.   Evolution was pointed to as justification for social darwinism, sure, but the criteria that social darwinists chose had so little to do with evolution that it's pointless to include it.  They may as well have said "These people shouldn't breed because we don't want them too" - which is, point of fact, precisely what they -are- saying.  That they obfuscate by referencing evolution is a ploy.  Social Darwinists once thought that the "lesser races" should be sterilized.  Why is that, what part of evolution supports that?  You think that people who are suffering from depression should not breed, but why, what part of evolution supports that? You're alive, aren't you...so depression is non-deleterious. If you want to use or include evolution in your justifications, then you have to use the metrics of evolution. Depression appears to be a function of a mind that is extremely advantageous, if our population pays a little in depression for the big brain that keeps us relevant, that's more than acceptable in evolutionary terms. Your own personal discomfort is not relevant. Your own personal value judgements are not relevant.

Be a social darwinist, by all means, if that's what you want to do, but stop trying to stuff evolution in there where it isn't operative or required, eh? Hell, you don't need any justification at all to decide you don't want kids. You -are- going to need some, though, if you want to tell others they can't have kids. I don;t think anyone would give you a moments grief for the former, but the latter...that's another can of worms entirely.

I still say that anyone who isn't me shouldn't be allowed to breed, and if my point stands until someone invalidates it, as you seem to feel yours does, then you need to get to work invalidating it. When you're done with that, you'll have to invalidate some other guys opinion that everyone must be -forced- to breed. Or, just maybe, you're approaching this ass backwards?