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Well, for this context I think the use is okay Isaac Send a noteboard - 21/08/2011 11:59:19 AM
Evolution is the affect of natural selection and like it or not we are part of nature. The actions and behaviors of birds affect how they evolve and the actions and behaviors of humans affects how we evolve. Evolution isn't a ladder where some creature are higher than others it is simple the result of selection. There is a real question about how our technology will affect our evolution but if we select for dumb and lazy then that is evolution as just as much as selecting for fast and smart.


We're really discussing how probable it is for a large brained organism to develop for which complex language is feasible, since that's the most obvious route to technology. If we consider that the nominal top of ladder after which random traits and mutation tend to take orders of magnitude longer to produce useful traits than innovation does... like developing coats and houses as opposed to mutating thicker fur... I think we can meaningful use the concept. The threads not really about evolution so bogging down on it doesn't achieve much. Though honestly I think Aerocontrols gave the best criticism of the article thus far, I brought up evolutionary ladder just as a reminder that the more obvious routes to an a species with a tech culture are not likely to be incredibly harmonious and peaceful.

The core point I was trying to get at was that a tech culture would tend to lean toward applauding efficiency and likely in the context of increasing their own numbers and improving their lot, since they'd naturally tend to be survival oriented and that's basically what tech is for, the conscious application of knowledge to do what otherwise is only achieved by thousands of generation of slow selection for beneficial mutation. I could see certain tendencies to trend toward certain ethical systems, such as a value for intelligence or creativity, but I think it's a big stretch to assume effective militant environmentalism would be the norm. Mostly though, I can't really see anyone getting to even the low end of spacefaring without having used fossil fuels at some point, since they'd be virtually inevitable to be around and give a big leg up to whichever part of the civilization decided to use them, making it a dubious proposition they'd turn xenocidal on anyone using them, except under the 'interstellar prick' clause where it's just a cheap excuse to wipe out possible competition... in which case their alleged moral superiority seems fairly irrelevant. One also can't hep but point out that the theoretical space hippies would apparently place great value on the diversity of life, which would make truly massive efforts at interstellar acts of genocide seem rather out of character.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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You make a fair point - 19/08/2011 11:22:53 AM 444 Views
Re: You make a fair point - 19/08/2011 02:06:05 PM 420 Views
Re: You make a fair point - 19/08/2011 02:10:43 PM 418 Views
It's the other other white meat. - 19/08/2011 07:13:19 PM 473 Views
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Very Space Hippy - 19/08/2011 10:39:10 PM 513 Views
It's still debatable whether we've abandoned the evolutionary ladder. - 19/08/2011 11:16:58 PM 589 Views
we should abdon the myth of the evolutionary ladder - 20/08/2011 11:49:35 PM 383 Views
Well, for this context I think the use is okay - 21/08/2011 11:59:19 AM 462 Views
yes I was just jumping into the middle of the discussion. - 22/08/2011 03:03:49 PM 422 Views
and we wonder why so many people ignore "scientist" - 19/08/2011 01:17:38 PM 518 Views
Think it's better to ignore "reporters on a slow news day," to be honest *NM* - 19/08/2011 02:38:23 PM 191 Views
Or even acquire a sense of humour. *NM* - 19/08/2011 08:36:07 PM 213 Views
That was the City of Pearl series by Karen Traviss - 19/08/2011 02:04:51 PM 485 Views
Re: That was the City of Pearl series by Karen Traviss - 19/08/2011 02:06:27 PM 443 Views
Hypothetical aliens are perfectly wise - 19/08/2011 06:24:13 PM 432 Views
You may be confusing aliens with God. - 19/08/2011 07:08:01 PM 457 Views
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It's a an amusing disconnect to watch. - 20/08/2011 12:25:00 AM 471 Views
Naturally. - 19/08/2011 08:36:28 PM 559 Views
So, basically, we're the poor white trash of the universe. - 19/08/2011 07:06:23 PM 518 Views

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