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We're sort of reducing evolution to a hill climbing algorithm then if we only start taking into account genetics (which, being easier and faster to measure we p

We're sort of reducing evolution to a hill climbing algorithm then if we only start taking into account genetics (which, being easier and faster to measure we probably will). To overcome local minima though you need large sources of perturbation while looking for solutions to approximate anything close to a "global minima". Evolution also automatically focuses it's attention on traits that survive better as the environment changes. Will our assessments continually assess the environment and make changes based on that? Can that ever be truly representative of gene expression that is definitely better for survival? So long as there is constant conflict around this and one side doesn't outright win, I'm ok with it tbh.

matte_black 9y ago
The struggle of humans today is mostly social survival, not survival in nature. Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to. There may be some conflict over this at first, but humans born in a post-eugenics era will not share your view and will likely dismiss it.
- JumpCrisscross 9y ago
  > Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to This sounds like a reasonable hypothesis. Any sources?
  - matte_black 9y ago
    No. Propose an experiment to be done?
    - JumpCrisscross 9y ago
      This question has been pondered for a long time [1]. TL; DR Nothing about evolution precludes it from selecting for social fitness. [1] http://joelvelasco.net/teaching/167win10/Hamilton64b-thegeneticalevolutionofsocialbehavior.pdf http://joelvelasco.net/teaching/167win10/Hamilton64b-thegene...
- quotemstr 9y ago
  > Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to. Huh? Evolution produces social organizations of all sorts. Do you think the complex social systems of higher primates come out of their reading Derrida or something? Evolution doesn't operate on social organizations directly, but it can certainly select for the brain structures and personality traits that tend, over time, to result in successful organizations. Why would that not be the case? Any time you have descent with modification and some selection function, you get evolution.

matte_black 9y ago

The struggle of humans today is mostly social survival, not survival in nature. Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to. There may be some conflict over this at first, but humans born in a post-eugenics era will not share your view and will likely dismiss it.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to This sounds like a reasonable hypothesis. Any sources?
- matte_black 9y ago
  No. Propose an experiment to be done?
  - JumpCrisscross 9y ago
    This question has been pondered for a long time [1]. TL; DR Nothing about evolution precludes it from selecting for social fitness. [1] http://joelvelasco.net/teaching/167win10/Hamilton64b-thegeneticalevolutionofsocialbehavior.pdf http://joelvelasco.net/teaching/167win10/Hamilton64b-thegene...
quotemstr 9y ago
> Evolution is not optimal for social fitness because societal factors change much more rapidly than what natural selection alone can respond to. Huh? Evolution produces social organizations of all sorts. Do you think the complex social systems of higher primates come out of their reading Derrida or something? Evolution doesn't operate on social organizations directly, but it can certainly select for the brain structures and personality traits that tend, over time, to result in successful organizations. Why would that not be the case? Any time you have descent with modification and some selection function, you get evolution.