Re: Earth's Carrying Capacity

From: Thomas Palm (Thomas.Palm_at_chello.removethis.se)
Date: 08/19/04 

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 07:43:39 GMT

"Pete Lynn" <pete@peterlynnkites.com> wrote in news:1092899484.484428
@kyle.snap.net.nz:

> "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl@KeithLynch.net> wrote in message
> news:cg15gu$770$1@panix3.panix.com...
>>
>> Evolution is selecting for people for whom standard methods of
>> contraception don't work. In a few centuries, we may be left with
>> no effective means of birth control.
>> --
>
> I doubt it. Greater control of birth timing, might actually be an
> evolutionary advantage. For example, menstruation tends to stop when
> women get too skinny, a naturally evolved and advantageous
> contraceptive.
>
> I expect human evolution to now select for birth rates that depend less
> on *accidents* and depend more on planned pregnancies, which it theory
> might be more advantageous. Human fertility is no longer primarily
> constrained by available food supply, it is no longer optimal to become
> pregnant whenever possible.

Optimal from what perspective? Form the perspective of spreading your genes
it certainly is optimal to get pregnant as often as possible and have
several children at the same time too. Earlier constraints as to how many
children you could actually bear and raise to adulthood has become largely
irrelevant. It seems to me you are involving yourself in a bit of wishful
thinking believing that evolution will go in the direction you wish it to
go.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Earths Carrying Capacity
    ... >> contraception don't work. ... >pregnant whenever possible. ... In pursuit of optimal reproductive fitness, then, evolution will seek ... childbearing, reduced ability to obtain and keep wealth, and immunity ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Earths Carrying Capacity
    ... > contraception don't work. ... > no effective means of birth control. ... I expect human evolution to now select for birth rates that depend less ... on *accidents* and depend more on planned pregnancies, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Is Islam the BNP of the religious world ?
    ... offensive it would be illegal to teach evolution or to use contraception. ... dave @ stejonda ...
    (uk.people.consumers.ebay)
  • Re: Human childbirth
    ... other animal births. ... Because our brains are so big and have to go through our mother's hips. ... Why do you think that a re-arrangement of the birth canal would have ... Evolution doesn't create perfect systems. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: simple straightforward question for christians
    ... Newspapers are filled with stories about pregnant teenagers even ... Evolution within the same "kind" happens ... A wolf will give rise to a dog. ...
    (talk.origins)