Seventh Generation Insustainability
- by Pixel
“Does the word ‘selection’ in Natural Selection imply a conscious agent?”
Don’t be silly. Natural Selection is named that to contrast with Artificial Selection, which has gone on since agriculture developed or since the first tamed animals (whichever came first).
So when I drive down my road and I run over a cute bunny, is that artificial selection or natural selection? Suppose I kill every cricket in my house or every dog in my neighborhood, what sort of selection pressure is that?
The Iroquois had a law: “In every deliberation we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.”
I try to think of the far distant future whenever I see some insane custom or habit. Specifically, I imagine what life would be like if humans kept running over most rabbits that ran into the street for the next generation. In my imagination, 175 years from now (2083), most suburban-area animals will have a morbid fear of asphalt. In 2083, we’ll also have the most resilient or reclusive bugs on the planet.
Also superviruses.
Try it some time. It’s fun to imagine what ridiculous ways we’re affecting the ecosystem. Interestingly, in every single projection I’ve made, there are no humans alive in the future.
I know, I know: I’m such an idealist. 🙂
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“Does the word ‘selection’ in Natural Selection imply a conscious agent?” Don’t be silly. Natural Selection is named that to contrast with Artificial Selection, which has gone on since agriculture developed or since the first tamed animals (whichever came first). So when I drive down my road and I run over a cute bunny, is…
When an animal dies based on something not genetic, it’s called genetic drift. Or at least, the outcome is genetic drift. Because (at least presumably) the bunny crossing the road isn’t really based on genetics, you aren’t eliminating a particular gene from the gene pool. So a random set of genes is eliminated. If the rabbit had the last genotype of a particular gene, that gene is now extinct. It’s a random process that serves to randomly get rid of genes. (Oh yeah, the assumption of genetic drift is that the gene is not harmful or helpful) Look at our ear lobes. There are two phenotypes, attached and unattached. Narrowed down from who knows what by genetic drift.
The first comment only pretains to the first have of your post (before the Iroquois law). The second half would be artificial selection. Because active conscious action drives the selection. Not natural/environmental pressures.
I am all for selection. Weeding out the dumb.
“You can’t fix stupid”
-Ron White