Do you think we are evolving?

StrongInTheArm · 12-11-2007, 08:19 AM

Some scientists believe we are evolving genetically and maybe we are:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7132794.stm

But that isn't quite what I'm asking. Many human civilisations have come and gone over the last 10,000 years or so. How do you think we are doing, marks out of 10 please? What are our weak areas, what are our strengths, where could we improve?

I think we have made great technological strides but still have not found a way to co-exist. We seem to be stuck in a sort of tribal mentality, putting us and ours first and not realising that our existence on this planet is inextricably intertwined with out fellow human beings. Its as if some lives are not worth as much as others.

I'd say we have a long way to go yet. 5 out of 10.

**G10** · 12-11-2007, 08:28 AM

For marks out of 10, I would give us a -5, though give it time as this will soon go even lower

We are the only species that tests nuclear weapons at the bottom of the oceans. We are the only species that is destroying the lungs of the planet (cutting down trees) at such a speed that it can't keep up.

And, we have managed to pollute it in the last 200 years, better than all civilisation put together since the beginning.

Evolving into what. We go so against nature and what the earth needs that I would say that according to nature, we are de-evolving.

Zap · 12-11-2007, 09:10 AM

Collectively, we have the "developed" mentality of a two year old.

We can build stuff but have no real concept of what to use it for.
We have no real direction to take our intellect in, so it is useless.
We anger easily when someone tries to play with our stuff.
We don't like change and care not about the world around us unless we have something to gain, immediately.
We crap in our diaper, without any thought of cleaning it up afterwards.
We pick fights with all the other two year olds if it fancies us in the moment.
The range of our forethought on any topic is about 2 seconds, on a good day.

In short, we suck!
We're barely holding it together as a group but we have made some fine technological achievements and for that reason alone, we didn't get a big fat zero.

1 out of 10

P.S. Merry Christmas Everyone!

mariuskl · 12-11-2007, 09:15 AM

The world is evolving. Who knows how much different we will be in the next 1000 years. Some people prevent that we will not have so many years, others tell that the man will be in "harmony" with the machines, and that thing is the most accurate i belive.

ewomack · 12-11-2007, 10:25 AM

We haven't changed all that much deep down. History outlines numerous communication, cultural, and resource allocation problems scattered throughout cultures, peoples, and lands from the time we first squacked. We're inherently selfish and warlike creatures, and we more or less remain so. And when people say the blue whale is the largest living thing on earth, they're dead wrong. The largest living thing on earth is the human ego. This bizarre cluster of cells thinks that all of existence was put here solely for itself and itself alone. And it seems to have always thought that to varying degrees. So have we evolved? We seem very adept at finding new ways of conquering other people, of letting the winners take everything, and of being completely nescient of the future consequences of our current actions. But we always seemed to be that way, from what I can tell.

**watley** · 12-11-2007, 10:38 AM

Inherently selfish? Every form of life is inherently selfish. The so-called balance of nature simply represents the stalemate between competing interests of the myriad organisms comprising the ecosystem, and over time (that is, millenia) the 'balance' shifts all over the place. What happens when creatures are introduced to habitats other than their own, e.g. enter an environment where they suddenly possess a signficant advantage? Usually, chaos. And while humans have greatly facilitated the introduction of invading species to other habitats around the world (how are those rabbits doing, Australia?) it happens in nature all by itself as well.

The danger is that we've become quite good at taking what we want. The miracle is that we hesitate at all in doing so. I do think it is a mistake to assume that our technological 'growth' will continue unabated indefinitely. We have a very short track record as a species, much less so as a technological civilization - it seems likely that over the long term there will be ups and downs, some of our own devising, but some not.

StrongInTheArm · 12-12-2007, 12:48 PM

I'm wondering if a global government to tackle global issues might help?

**kristeejo** · 12-12-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zap

Collectively, we have the "developed" mentality of a two year old.

We can build stuff but have no real concept of what to use it for.
We have no real direction to take our intellect in, so it is useless.
We anger easily when someone tries to play with our stuff.
We don't like change and care not about the world around us unless we have something to gain, immediately.
We crap in our diaper, without any thought of cleaning it up afterwards.
We pick fights with all the other two year olds if it fancies us in the moment.
The range of our forethought on any topic is about 2 seconds, on a good day.

In short, we suck!
We're barely holding it together as a group but we have made some fine technological achievements and for that reason alone, we didn't get a big fat zero.

1 out of 10

P.S. Merry Christmas Everyone!

This post is amazing. I do believe you have just won

DRUMROLL

yah you know. congrats and i can't even green you.

**John Scott** · 12-13-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

We are the only species that is destroying the lungs of the planet (cutting down trees) at such a speed that it can't keep up.

There is more forest covered land in both China and the US than there was 100 years ago. Kudos to humanity. (Forest cover is at an all time high in China, at 16.5%)

Yeah, I know, it's a fad to hate humans. But I am compelled to butt in with a few facts.

No time in the history of the earth has such a large percentage been governed democratically.

No time in the history of the earth has such a large percentage of humanity had access to professional health care.

No time in the history of the earth have we enjoyed the freedom from common diseases that used to wipe out entire populations.

No time in the history of the earth have we had this level of freedom from famine, starvation, plague.

No time in the history of the earth have we enjoyed this level of human rights protections.

Humans suck? Do you people know what the average life expectancy was in Plato's time?

Do you know how people used to live? Every day was a fight for survival.

Talk about spoiled.

chicgeek · 12-13-2007, 04:10 AM

John, what ever happened to renaming that forum "Politics and Philosophy"? Hop to it!

This belongs there more than in the lobby.

Brian · 12-13-2007, 05:57 AM

Our ego's have evolved but our results havn't

**StarLab** · 12-13-2007, 09:02 AM

See attachment... 'nuff said.. lol

eagles12 · 12-13-2007, 10:39 AM

Physically, we are de-evolving. The more generations that exist, the more likelihood for mutations which is nothing more then a loss in genetic information.

Intellectually we have made great strides. Man has built on his knowledge over the centuries and now there is almost nothing that we aren't capable of.

But spiritually, we have forgotten God, trusting in ourselves and our accomplishments.

My two cents worth,
Mark
Isaiah 40:31

StrongInTheArm · 12-13-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagles12

Physically, we are de-evolving. The more generations that exist, the more likelihood for mutations which is nothing more then a loss in genetic information.

Intellectually we have made great strides. Man has built on his knowledge over the centuries and now there is almost nothing that we aren't capable of.

But spiritually, we have forgotten God, trusting in ourselves and our accomplishments.

My two cents worth,
Mark
Isaiah 40:31

Eagles12: I take it you have approached this thread from a religious point of view and there is nothing wrong with that. But your understanding of the idea of evolution is flawed if you think we are de-evolving. Might I point you in the direction of the article I quoted when starting this thread.

As to the things we are not capable of, the list is so vast as to make your statement nonsensical. For instance, to give you but one example, most forms of cancer are beyond a cure for us, even after nearly 50 years of pumping vast sums of money into its research.

eagles12 · 12-13-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

Eagles12: I take it you have approached this thread from a religious point of view and there is nothing wrong with that. But your understanding of the idea of evolution is flawed if you think we are de-evolving. Might I point you in the direction of the article I quoted when starting this thread.

As to the things we are not capable of, the list is so vast as to make your statement nonsensical. For instance, to give you but one example, most forms of cancer are beyond a cure for us, even after nearly 50 years of pumping vast sums of money into its research.

Actually, I have an excellent understanding of evolution. I know for one species to change into another there must be an increase in complexity and genetic information. The only way that I know of and what most Darwinian evolutionists bank on is mutations. But mutations cause a loss of genetic information which agrees with the second law of thermadynamics (law of entropy). Therefore, we are not becoming more evolved but we are physically degrading.

With that said, here is a quote from the aforementioned article: "The technology can't detect anything beyond about 2,000 years ago, but we see no sign of [human evolution] slowing down. So I would suspect it is continuing..." This quote says that there is no sign of human evolution slowing down so he makes the supposition that it is continuing without any evidence to support his supposition.

And in my first post I said "almost". I didn't say that there is absolutely nothing we can't do.

Cancer proves my point...this is really nothing more than a good cell gone abnormal. Mutation and degradation.

Positively, there might be a cure for cancer. But it would put pharmaceutical companies out of business so maybe it is not being reported.

God bless,
Mark
Isaiah 40:31

StrongInTheArm · 12-13-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagles12

Actually, I have an excellent understanding of evolution...

And yet you say we are de-evolving. Am I turning into a monkey?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagles12

And in my first post I said "almost". I didn't say that there is absolutely nothing we can't do.

Your use of the word 'almost' suggests there is little left that we cannot do. My point was that there is so much that we cannot do that you show a lack of understanding by using that word.

Zap · 12-14-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote: