Re: Darwinian evolution=Armageddon?

From: Tim Tyler (tim_at_tt1lock.org)
Date: 06/28/04 

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 16:02:24 +0000 (UTC)

Michael Ragland <ragland37@webtv.net> wrote or quoted:

> I agree with you Tim but your projecting way into the future when we
> have embraced design and the main possibilities for life not consisting
> (in large part) of descendants of the human race in the future. I
> suppose you consider whether Homo Sapiens will destroy themselves is a
> rather moot question but I believe it is this period of our evolution
> when there is the greatest risk of doing so.

I agree. Organisms are at their most vulerable when they are young -
and our species is still fairly near start of its development - and
we could - in principle - still be wiped out by a big enough asteroid.

> My original question was Darwinian evolution=Armageddon (permanent
> extinction no descendants to be less biblical) if there is no genetic
> intervention. You haven't exactly answered that.

Since I don't see much chance of it happening, it seems rather
hypothetical.

However, I suppose it is at least possible that humans could resist
designing themselves up to the point where machines formed 99% of the
planetary "biomass" - and outflanked humans in every way. At that point,
the human element would be pretty redundant and dispensible - and might
be in danger of disappearing.

...but seriously, I don't think moral codes or prohibition will
be in the least effective at preventing engineered humans from
arising. A war on genetic engineered humans would be about as
effective as the war on drugs has been.

In this respect, stuff like Star Trek seems ridiculously unrealistic -
massive machine advance - but apparently practically no progress with
engineering humans - and indeed a deliberate failure to get to grips
with the subject. 

-- 
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