Re: Speculation on Future Evolution

(snipped)

I would challenge you too, to find evolved traits that are less
nurturing and or less protective for a species in that environment at
that place and time. So overall I contend evolution leads in one
direction - toward better nurturing or better protection - with every
step being limited to improvement then at that point in time.

As I have pointed out before, you use the word 'nurture' in a very
nonstandard way. I think that you would claim that a plant 'nurtures'
itself by growing roots. But the more standard use of the term
refers to the relationship between parent and offspring (or kin),
not the relationship between an individual and itself.

Using the standard meaning of 'nurture', there have probably been
countless examples of evolution in the direction of less nurture and
protection of offspring. Any plant whose seeds have become smaller
and more numerous over evolutionary time, for example. I'm sure
there have also been fish which have evolved from a habit of guarding
a small clutch of eggs to a habit of leaving more eggs, but not
protecting them.

The classic group selection experiment of McCullogh and Wade (1980)
can be interpreted as evolution in an anti-nurturing direction. And
I think that H. sap. is moving in that direction today, though it is
definitely not clear how long this trend will continue.

You may wish to research r-selection vs K-selection. In many cases,
r-selection leads to less nurture, while K-selection leads to more.
Similarly for protection (of self or offspring).

Well we may have def. problems. But for me the choice of r selection or
K selection is - for that species - what best nurtures or protects that
species
in that environment at that time.

I don't think the choice of r or K in anyway supports less nurturing or
protection for the species - though it may for the individual egg in a
case
by case basis.


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