5 ms·

If you're implying social Darwinism being an expected natural consequence, you may want to research the history and abuses of the idea before accepting it and t

If you're implying social Darwinism being an expected natural consequence, you may want to research the history and abuses of the idea before accepting it and throwing it around so glibly.

sizzle 4y ago
Got any good links?
pdonis 4y ago
> If you're implying social Darwinism I don't think the GP was referring to social Darwinism, just plain old Darwinism, of the "Darwin Award" variety.
- oasisbob 4y ago
  My point is that exactly. The "Darwin Award" variety IS a facetious form of social Darwinism. It's not related to the science of evolution, it's using the principles of natural selection for social commentary.
  - pdonis 4y ago
    > It's not related to the science of evolution Yes, it is, at least to the extent that intelligence and common sense are selected for, and their opposites are selected against, in our current selective environment.
    - oasisbob 4y ago
      If there's anything in the literature describing the increase in "common sense" among Homo sapiens due to evolutionary pressures, I'd love to read it.
branon 4y ago
Couldn't even tell you what social Darwinism is. My comment was not political in nature, I was merely referring to the concept of natural selection in a literal sense.
supercheetah 4y ago
Not even close to the same thing. Someone doing something to themselves that puts themselves in mortal danger isn't anywhere on the same level as wanting to eliminate an entire group of people based on some arbitrary attribute. They should definitely be warned, and perhaps be put into therapy with a professional, but self harm isn't social darwinism. It's just a mental health issue.
- oasisbob 4y ago
  People who celebrate the deaths of others due to their lack of perceived intelligence is absolutely an example of natural selection being applied to an inappropriate, scientifically devoid situation. I agree that self-harm isn't social Darwinism. People sharing amusing stories of self-harm and chuckling about "cleaning the gene pool" absolutely is. Natural selection is not the right tool to downplay and excuse harm to others, and has nothing to do with the scientific theory of evolution.

If you're implying social Darwinism being an expected natural consequence, you may want to research the history and abuses of the idea before accepting it and throwing it around so glibly.

sizzle 4y ago

Got any good links?

pdonis 4y ago

> If you're implying social Darwinism I don't think the GP was referring to social Darwinism, just plain old Darwinism, of the "Darwin Award" variety.

oasisbob 4y ago
My point is that exactly. The "Darwin Award" variety IS a facetious form of social Darwinism. It's not related to the science of evolution, it's using the principles of natural selection for social commentary.
- pdonis 4y ago
  > It's not related to the science of evolution Yes, it is, at least to the extent that intelligence and common sense are selected for, and their opposites are selected against, in our current selective environment.
  - oasisbob 4y ago
    If there's anything in the literature describing the increase in "common sense" among Homo sapiens due to evolutionary pressures, I'd love to read it.

branon 4y ago

Couldn't even tell you what social Darwinism is. My comment was not political in nature, I was merely referring to the concept of natural selection in a literal sense.

supercheetah 4y ago

Not even close to the same thing. Someone doing something to themselves that puts themselves in mortal danger isn't anywhere on the same level as wanting to eliminate an entire group of people based on some arbitrary attribute. They should definitely be warned, and perhaps be put into therapy with a professional, but self harm isn't social darwinism. It's just a mental health issue.

oasisbob 4y ago
People who celebrate the deaths of others due to their lack of perceived intelligence is absolutely an example of natural selection being applied to an inappropriate, scientifically devoid situation. I agree that self-harm isn't social Darwinism. People sharing amusing stories of self-harm and chuckling about "cleaning the gene pool" absolutely is. Natural selection is not the right tool to downplay and excuse harm to others, and has nothing to do with the scientific theory of evolution.