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Originally Posted by willravel
Let's say for the benifit of our genes, we try to reproduce. Does it benifit our genes to self destruct? Of course not. You argued with a moot point.
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You suggested that one of the main goals of a species is to preserve itself. I suggested that you were incorrect in that regard. I did not argue a moot point. Also, evolution by natural selection is not forward looking. It operates on differences in reproduction in the current generation. Of course, it does not benefit genes to self-destruct, but again, evolution by natural selection is not forward looking. It doesn't "see" the consequences of current selection on distant generations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by willravel
Nature is not a conscious entity to the best of my knowledge. There are however natural responses to certian happenings that occour naturally or unnaturally. The greenhouse effect is a good example of a natural response to abuse to an environment. If we theoretically were to pump enough crap into the atmosphere, the Earth's atmosphere would begin to heat up. It is not conscious punishment, of course. It is a natural response that happens.
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I would suggest that this is a consequence rather than a response. (EDIT: response versus consequence may be splitting hairs) The earth isn't trying to kill us in your example. You had suggested that "nature is dealing with us" and that the demise of humanity might be "planetary self-preservation. To me, that sounds like nature is an independent causal entity acting in it's own self interest against humanity. That sounds strange to me. That is why I commented.
Quote:
Originally Posted by willravel
I hope someone can think about it on a large scale, because it seems a lot like we are headed in a bad direction globally.
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It certainly seems that way.