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Both you and the parent seem to assume that 'evolution' means 'improvement' Humanity has clearly evolved, even in the last 200 years. Doesn't mean we are gett

Both you and the parent seem to assume that 'evolution' means 'improvement' Humanity has clearly evolved, even in the last 200 years. Doesn't mean we are getting better

rantwasp 5y ago
I think there is an individual and a meta/society level. I think both me and GP were referring to the individual/micro level.
- IggleSniggle 5y ago
  And I think the person you are responding to was acknowledging that evolution didn’t just stop…as long as there are babies there are mutations, and the environment will select for some qualities over others. If you meant super micro, then the same can be said of your immune system / gut flora, though I’m not certain of the relevance. The point is that “evolution” doesn’t magically direct to some better outcome, or even towards a more sustainable local maxima.
zikduruqe 5y ago
Our software has improved since the domestication of animals and crops. Our hardware has not changed and we are still on H. Sapiens 1.0.
- fakedang 5y ago
  Isn't it the other way? Hardware has changed as massive inventions have augmented our living standards. While at the same time, the software (IE human mentality) hasn't over 1000s of years, except for maybe hard disk usage (which is human knowledge).
  - mint2 5y ago
    The hardware they were referring to is the human body. All that’s changed is we know how to maintain it better and can fix more types of premature breakdowns. It’s essentially the same hardware, just better maintained.
- monkeycantype 5y ago
  I hope you’re correct. All our domesticated animals have smaller brains than their wild cousins. If the phrenologists hadn’t been so focussed on proving their racist fantasies, would they have found our skulls a few marbles smaller than our ancient (modern human) ancestors?
- sizzle 5y ago
  Will CRISPR on humans usher in Homosapiens 2.0 in our lifetimes?

Both you and the parent seem to assume that 'evolution' means 'improvement' Humanity has clearly evolved, even in the last 200 years. Doesn't mean we are getting better

rantwasp 5y ago

I think there is an individual and a meta/society level. I think both me and GP were referring to the individual/micro level.

IggleSniggle 5y ago
And I think the person you are responding to was acknowledging that evolution didn’t just stop…as long as there are babies there are mutations, and the environment will select for some qualities over others. If you meant super micro, then the same can be said of your immune system / gut flora, though I’m not certain of the relevance. The point is that “evolution” doesn’t magically direct to some better outcome, or even towards a more sustainable local maxima.

zikduruqe 5y ago

Our software has improved since the domestication of animals and crops. Our hardware has not changed and we are still on H. Sapiens 1.0.

fakedang 5y ago
Isn't it the other way? Hardware has changed as massive inventions have augmented our living standards. While at the same time, the software (IE human mentality) hasn't over 1000s of years, except for maybe hard disk usage (which is human knowledge).
- mint2 5y ago
  The hardware they were referring to is the human body. All that’s changed is we know how to maintain it better and can fix more types of premature breakdowns. It’s essentially the same hardware, just better maintained.
monkeycantype 5y ago
I hope you’re correct. All our domesticated animals have smaller brains than their wild cousins. If the phrenologists hadn’t been so focussed on proving their racist fantasies, would they have found our skulls a few marbles smaller than our ancient (modern human) ancestors?
sizzle 5y ago
Will CRISPR on humans usher in Homosapiens 2.0 in our lifetimes?