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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (44705)	2/25/2002 6:09:24 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 82486

if we ban topics because they have been endlessly rehashed, there would be little to talk about, frankly. Here's a new one for discussion. Some scientists are claiming that as far as the human species is concerned we have ended evolution. The basic argument is this: evolution comes about through selection of the fittest. The fittest survive and pass on their genes, the unfit die off without passing on their genes. However, modern social trends and modern medical advances have halted this process, and in some senses reversed it. Take medicine. We can overcome many genetic health problems which would in the past have died out, and allow their bearers to procreate and continue those weaker gene lines. We now save premature babies, many with genetic problems, who would in the past have died naturally. We save people whose stupidity would have caused them in the past to die off. In essence, we are trying our best to stop the process of natural selection. Socially, we are moving toward greater inclusiveness. The mentally challenged are no longer shunted aside, warehoused, and allowed to die off, but are incuded, are not only permitted but encouraged to marry and have children, in some cases perpetuating the genetic bases of retardation. The mentally ill are treated rather than allowed to fend for themselvesl; in the past they could seldom lead "normal" family lives, but today, with drugs controlling mental illness, they can have children and pass on what may be weaker genes. Criminals are not executed, but are punished and then most often returned to society. Demographically we find that the less successful and affluent in society tend to have more babies and weaker babies than the more successful and affluent. To the extent that there is a genetic component to success, those genes are being perpetuated less often than less successful genes. In these and many other ways we have essentially tried our best to put a halt to the concept of survival of the fittest, but rather have tried to ensure the survival of everybody. But the upshot of this is to defeat the mechanism of evolution, and to put an end to the drive of our species to grow stronger and more capable of survival as a species. I've had to write this in a hurry, rather than carefully, so the argument is not as well presented as it would be in a paper or essay, but I'll lay it out for discussion. At least you can't complain that it's a topic we've chewed over endlessly already!