[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Evolution and Man (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/22/2008 2:04:38 PM EDT
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet?
Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? |
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? Its impossible to say what the future will hold since we have no idea how the environment may chance in the future (I mean, what if we get hit by a comet, and it hits the RESET button tomorrow?) I think its very likely we will become extinct (either by natural or our own devices). However, since an intelligent and industrious animal is not the goal of evolution, it is impossible to say if anything would evolve to the point where it could "dominate" the earth as we do today. Is it possible? Yes. What are the chances of it occurring? Roll some dice, that'll give you an equally valid probability as anyone else can come up with. |
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? We should keep our eyes on cockroaches. 
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Oh, I am in...IBTSS! How are you feeling BTW? Blake I am doing better actually. I didn't spend more than 10 minutes sitting at one stretch all weekend and did a lot of walking. This morning my pain in my leg was less intense than it has been and my back pain was pretty much non-existent. However, today was a work day and I have spent most of the day sitting again, minus about a half hour when I went for a 1.5 mile walk. I am about to go for my evening 4 mile walk, which is going to be fun since it's 30 out. 
I will probably go lay in bed for the rest of the evening after that. Sitting definitely aggravates my back and leg/nerves. |
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If Dolphins ever develop opposable thumbs we are totally fucked...
(Dolphins have an encephalization quotient close to or exceeding that of humans if memory serves - it means they're smart... TOO smart...) IN ON 1 - Not another evolution thread... Also, in before "I didn't evolve from a Monkey" |
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Human intelligence and education has surpassed evolution. All major changes have been technological and societal, not evolutionary. True up to the present, but I think we're on the cusp of seeing significant genetic "evolutionary" changes. Not because of random mutation and selection pressure, but because we're going to start modifying our own genomes. |
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? Possibly or possibly not. You won't be alive to experience it, so don't worry about it. That's the best answer anyone can give you given the current state of modern biology. Evolution really isn't understood all that well on the molecular scale, although there is plenty of data to support the theory. Now, we can also talk about evolution of non-biological life. The concept is called something like the singularity point of invention. Of course, we're no closer to true AI than we are to understanding biological evolution. |
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humans have not stopped evolving. Evolving is a continual process, it's just very slow in an organism with a lifespan of ~65-90 years. As we become more reliant on technology, I see humans becoming physically weaker as time progresses.
That is if idiocracy doesn't prove true first. |
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If we don't destroy ourselves and everything on this rock, we will probably be destroyed by viruses.
Then in another few million years, some new lifeform will take it's place as the dominant species. If man were to evolve naturally, I would hope for a second set of arms and hands. Always needing an extra pair of hands. 
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You guys need to go back and read some of the good hard-science fiction. No species without fire can compete with us. Fire is the key and no water species can make tools. Without fire, a species would have to develop some paranormal abilities to topple us. That or out breed us like the Zerg or something. |
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Human intelligence and education has surpassed evolution. All major changes have been technological and societal, not evolutionary. Completely disagree, since neither of those things would "stop evolution". Alter, influence, etc, yes, absolutely. But if you really comprehend evolution, you'd understand why "stopping evolution" isn't really possible. |
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? Man stopped evolving (at least in any positive and productive sense) when he became a tool user, and I don't think there's "room" in any ecological niches for any other species to evolve the intelligence and dexterity to challenge the "apex" position of man. I remember seeing some interesting discussion of what intelligent species might evolve to become intelligent tool users if man suddenly vanished. I think one of the more plausible suggestions was that squid or octupus might eventually climb the ladder. Personally, I think bears would be next - I like the idea of intelligent badass bears with opposable thumbs and machineguns. 
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? Bunch of misconceptions: A) one does not "believe" in evolution, one accepts that evolution accurately describes the way nature works. Evolution is a model, nature is reality. B) Humans are evolving at at least the same rate as we have over the last 5 millenia. C) Humans, seen by the longevity of a planet are fleeting beings D) As of now, there is nothing Humans can do against 10 mile sized asteroids E) if the mutating drug resistant germs continue their evolution, by mid century we may be worse off than we we in 1900 in pharmacutical terms |
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For those of you who believe in evolution, do you think that any species will ever evolve to subvert man's place as the dominant species on the planet? Or, do you believe that man will ever evolve again to develop new abilities? Man stopped evolving (at least in any positive and productive sense) when he became a tool user, and I don't think there's "room" in any ecological niches for any other species to evolve the intelligence and dexterity to challenge the "apex" position of man. I remember seeing some interesting discussion of what intelligent species might evolve to become intelligent tool users if man suddenly vanished. I think one of the more plausible suggestions was that squid or octupus might eventually climb the ladder. Personally, I think bears would be next - I like the idea of intelligent badass bears with opposable thumbs and machineguns. Man changed species 3 or 4 or more times after he became a tool user. |
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This is very close to what I learned in my last science class. There has been a lot of research done on this (up to the part of the god thumping the dude with the bomb). ETA: I do think evolution happened, but I also think that someone spurred it on. Whether or not it was Jehovah has yet to be proven true, yet I do believe in Jehovah. I have a crazy mind that thinks anything is possible, but I need to see proof that something exists before I believe in it or have faith. |
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Can you tell? After all, if the Romans of the Classic Era were to look at the average American of this era might he think that evolution has occurred into another species? Maybe not another species, but a much better and improved model.
Height is about 6-8" taller and life expectancy is doubled. |
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We've progressed too far technologically for any terrestrial species to overtake us without us first destroying ourselves. And if we don't do it before we become spacefaring over the next couple hundred years, it's likely man won't be able to destroy himself either.
Our biggest worry from biological threats at this point, aside from ourselves, would be some other lifeform in the nearby galaxy that is capable of FTL travel. |
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We've progressed too far technologically for any terrestrial species to overtake us without us first destroying ourselves. And if we don't do it before we become spacefaring over the next couple hundred years, it's likely man won't be able to destroy himself either. Our biggest worry from biological threats at this point, aside from ourselves, would be some other lifeform in the nearby galaxy that is capable of FTL travel. One question. Why would aliens who have FTL travel want to harm us? If they have thoroughly mastered physics to the level to harness enough energy to make FTL travel possible, I doubt they would have any need for us or our planet. I think you may be a little optimistic about us becoming space faring in a couple centuries. Sure we will probably be able to visit or maybe even live on other planets in the solar system to a limited extent, but it will by no means be a guarantee against extinction. |
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One question. Why would aliens who have FTL travel want to harm us? If they have thoroughly mastered physics to the level to harness enough energy to make FTL travel possible, I doubt they would have any need for us or our planet. Think about it like this. Say we have FTL travel and all kinds of awesome technology. We come across a hive-like race that advances in technology extremely quickly, has a history of extreme violence even against themselves, and has a history of spreading like wildfire to wherever they can get access to and live comfortably. They would almost certainly overtake us in relatively short order if they ever reached par with us, which they are likely to do before too long. What would you do personally about them? And that aside, what do you think we as a species would do about them? As far as usefulness of an Earth-like planet, I guess that depends on a) Whether an Earth-like planet provides suitable conditions, b) How common Earth-like planets are in this region of space, c) whether they are aggressive colonizers in the mold of humanity (let's not forget North and South America were barely-populated wildernesses just a few hundred years ago). Quoted:
I think you may be a little optimistic about us becoming space faring in a couple centuries. Sure we will probably be able to visit or maybe even live on other planets in the solar system to a limited extent, but it will by no means be a guarantee against extinction. We will rapidly become spacefaring the moment it becomes monetarily feasible for private concerns to get into space routinely (a moment that is rapidly closing). Even if you're just talking primary industries there is more easily-gotten wealth than you can imagine just on a single NEA. Nevermind other industries that could reap enormous financial benefits from access to space. It's only optimistic if I expect government alone to take us there and for no profitable reason to move offworld to ever be found. We can already see that government alone will not be the only solution in as little as ten years' time, and the potential for massive profits in orbit and beyond are already known. |
