3 ms·
You may be trying to be pedantic, but, to be meta-pedantic, your point highlights that two different conclusions are reasonable depending on the scale of analys
by biomcgary 12y ago
You may be trying to be pedantic, but, to be meta-pedantic, your point highlights that two different conclusions are reasonable depending on the scale of analysis. At a functional level, a fetus takes nutrients from mom without returning any benefit (thus a parasite), but from the longer term perspective of evolution the relationship is mutualistic.
- rmrfrmrf 12y agoNo benefit? What about a near-constant stream of endorphins and oxytocin?
- sarink87 12y agoYeah! Or the increased risk of death and sickness! If tapeworms released endorphins, would it also not be a parasite? parasite (noun): an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]