Posted by alexandra_k on September 14, 2013, at 23:15:05
In reply to Re: Social Skills, posted by alexandra_k on September 14, 2013, at 23:04:39
but that is thought to be different because his inclusive fitness is determined by my successes. which is why your family members (especially older ones) are thought to sacrifice themselves in order to benefit you as you are the part of them that will survive once they are gone... it is actually in their (genes) best interests for them to sacrifice themselves for your benefit...
and something is broken down or f*ck*d right up when that doesn't happen. when familial bonds are about... the kids serving the adults rather than the other way around.
part of the worry about euthenasia is the old people who will sacrifice themself for (their) perceived good of the family.. when the family says that no! it is actually in the families best interests to have grandpa or ma around... there is the grandmother hypothesis... kids do better with grandparents around... of course they do... parents to better too...
well.. some of them. not when everyone has to hang about looking after grandpa instead of doing what is in their best interests...
apparently you can't talk of selection between cultural groups of humans because of gene flow. too much interbreeding for true genetic difference. thus there isn't reliable inheritance. i sort of take the point... but i sort of don't. most 'traditional' cultures... seems to me... aren't doing so well. we can pour money at them but it is pouring money at a sinking ship. these cultures aren't evolving they aren't adapting they aren't keeping up. they aren't very well able to incorporate technological advances etc... insofar as the cultures are alive they are segregated from the mainstream...
and of course there are other cultures that are alive and developing and flourishing... modern day... all kinds... chinese... indian... western... lots of different ones. and of course there is through-traffic. but there are also clear cases where cultures clash. norms and expectations etc. and people make choices which one they follow in what respects...
seems to me you can trace this... then see the 'sick' or 'dying' ones... those relegated to the ICU living on borrowed time... not enough impetus or momentum from within to evolve things to incorporate modern advances...
seems to me.
not entirely sure why a generation of academics is anti this line of thinking... except that everyone skirts well away from the possibility of anything vaguely hinting suggesting anything at all to do with anything sorta kinda like eugenics. (what do we do about intellectually handicapped people with genetic disorder who are institutionalized and fertile currently?) genetic screening...
there is a downs syndrome 'movement' apparently... to do with quality of life... i feel squeemish...
or perhaps there really are issues with high fidelity inheritance and the reification of memes that is problematic in ways that currently escape me.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1047868
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20130914/msgs/1050696.html