http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/08/12/478/ A graduate student in mathematics and a modern languages major take on politics and culture with the following aspirational motto: ‘Deregulate your mind.’ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:15:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/08/12/478/#comment-16692 Curt Tue, 15 Aug 2006 09:47:20 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/08/12/478/#comment-16692 <p>I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I don't think "altruistic" genes have anything to do with preferring to eat a cow to a cockroach. Cows are presumably a better nutrition source than cockroaches, or are more easily digested, or at least taste better, which probably indicates that they are a more natural food source. Since we're not talking about an individual human sacrificing himself here, his best strategy would be to eat whatever is best for him nutritionally. It might be better for cows to predominate than cockroaches from the standpoint of human genes, but it is best of all if they themselves predominate, which they can do by giving themselves the best nutrition possible. Incidentally, I don't know if this is a perfect example, since in some parts of the world I believe people do eat cockroaches, but it is at least more in the nature of the behavioral decision that needs to be made, I believe. In any case, we can at least say that most people are more likely to feel bad about killing or eating a cow than a cockroach, which I think should count for something. It is at all events necessary to bear in mind that evolutionary altruistic tendencies, if they in fact exist, should logically be fairly easily overriden by considerations of one's own personal good, unless the comparatively greater benefit from altruism is extremely stark and clear-cut.</p> I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but I don’t think “altruistic” genes have anything to do with preferring to eat a cow to a cockroach. Cows are presumably a better nutrition source than cockroaches, or are more easily digested, or at least taste better, which probably indicates that they are a more natural food source. Since we’re not talking about an individual human sacrificing himself here, his best strategy would be to eat whatever is best for him nutritionally. It might be better for cows to predominate than cockroaches from the standpoint of human genes, but it is best of all if they themselves predominate, which they can do by giving themselves the best nutrition possible. Incidentally, I don’t know if this is a perfect example, since in some parts of the world I believe people do eat cockroaches, but it is at least more in the nature of the behavioral decision that needs to be made, I believe. In any case, we can at least say that most people are more likely to feel bad about killing or eating a cow than a cockroach, which I think should count for something. It is at all events necessary to bear in mind that evolutionary altruistic tendencies, if they in fact exist, should logically be fairly easily overriden by considerations of one’s own personal good, unless the comparatively greater benefit from altruism is extremely stark and clear-cut.

]]> http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/08/12/478/#comment-16671 Dave Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:01:29 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/08/12/478/#comment-16671 <p>These altruistic tendencies are just mechanisms that, on average tend to perpetuate ones genes. I don’t know if they work so rationally. For instance I would rather eat a cow than a cockroach despite my closer genetic similarity to cow. Also these preferences certainly can be seemingly non-productive in cases where humans adopt other people’s children. The drives that promote a genes survival take on a life of their own. In some species, such as birds this is taken advantage of to the extent that it must be resisted. For example cow birds and cuckoos. Do these species exist in human form? One dares not ask.</p> These altruistic tendencies are just mechanisms that, on average tend to perpetuate ones genes. I don’t know if they work so rationally. For instance I would rather eat a cow than a cockroach despite my closer genetic similarity to cow. Also these preferences certainly can be seemingly non-productive in cases where humans adopt other people’s children. The drives that promote a genes survival take on a life of their own. In some species, such as birds this is taken advantage of to the extent that it must be resisted. For example cow birds and cuckoos. Do these species exist in human form? One dares not ask.

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