What is the future of human evolution?

Howard the Duck · 10-11-2012, 02:55 AM

the future will be a world ruled by the Patriarch - me

embrace your Patriarch now

The Batlord · 10-11-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

Well since there is no proof that there are other intelligent lifeforms out there we might as well compare it to a society of underground pigs.

Considering how big the universe is, there's at least a fair chance that alien life exists. In fact, I'd say it'd be like believing in underground pig societies to think there wasn't alien life. Oh, and don't be a crybaby.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-11-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Unfortunately, I don't think that it'll ever be possible to prove or disprove this, the one massive obstacle being distance.

Well, to paraphrase my hero and close personal victim of stalking Michio Kaku, once we reach a type 3 civilization that spans multiple planets, humanity will have vast amounts of time to dedicate to research on closing the cosmic gap between us and our nearest intelligent neighbors.

duga · 10-11-2012, 01:25 PM

There are multiple theories on how species evolve. One that has gained a lot of popularity is the idea that huge leaps in evolution (like speciation) occur rapidly and are interspersed by periods of virtually no evolution. What Conan said actually makes sense in this context... Currently we have reached a plateau of evolution in our species. We evolved self awareness through a time period when our ancestors were presented with a time of plentiful food and had the opportunity to basically just "sit and think about stuff" rather than focus on survival. That brought us to where we are today, so the next step would be to have a time when we didn't have to worry about the fate of the planet or each other. In essence, we could all just sit and think again (or do research).

blastingas10 · 10-11-2012, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Considering how big the universe is, there's at least a fair chance that alien life exists. In fact, I'd say it'd be like believing in underground pig societies to think there wasn't alien life. Oh, and don't be a crybaby.

Well you have no proof, so there is no basis for that belief other than it sounding reasonable to you. I do agree that it is likely, however. You can say whatever, but until you don't have proof You're just going off of whatever sounds right to you, and there is no real scientific credibility to that.

Freebase Dali · 10-11-2012, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

Well you have no proof, so there is no basis for that belief other than it sounding reasonable to you. I do agree that it is likely, however. You can say whatever, but until you don't have proof You're just going off of whatever sounds right to you, and there is no real scientific credibility to that.

There is far more scientific credibility in mathematical probability than there is in speculation based on imagination... If one is given an argument whereupon one side presents no proof, but does present a mathematical likelihood to support the theory, versus an argument that presents no proof, but does present a fun idea to support the theory... I don't think it's very difficult to decide (for most reasonable people) which idea to prefer over the other, even if neither of them offers any actual proof.

I guess there would be, technically speaking, a mathematical probability for anything. But I'd say the probability for any form of life existing on another planet is undeniably higher than the probability of underground pig societies (in the conventional sense that such a label conveys).

Howard the Duck · 10-11-2012, 08:12 PM

i am Homo Superior

women are attracted to my evolutionary radiation

blastingas10 · 10-11-2012, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

There is far more scientific credibility in mathematical probability than there is in speculation based on imagination... If one is given an argument whereupon one side presents no proof, but does present a mathematical likelihood to support the theory, versus an argument that presents no proof, but does present a fun idea to support the theory... I don't think it's very difficult to decide (for most reasonable people) which idea to prefer over the other, even if neither of them offers any actual proof.

I guess there would be, technically speaking, a mathematical probability for anything. But I'd say the probability for any form of life existing on another planet is undeniably higher than the probability of underground pig societies (in the conventional sense that such a label conveys).

which was my point to begin with when my post was compared to a society of underground pigs. Just because two thing aren't scientifically proven doesn't mean they're equally illogical, which was close my exact words a few posts ago.

Guybrush · 10-12-2012, 12:56 AM

Just to nitpick a bit.

In theory, nothing can ultimately be proven because there's always a chance we're wrong about everything we think we know, but one hypothesis can be supported by more evidence than another. So one hypothesis (ex. there is life on other planets) can be more credible than another (there are advanced underground societies of pigs).

Howard the Duck · 10-12-2012, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

Just to nitpick a bit.

In theory, nothing can ultimately be proven because there's always a chance we're wrong about everything we think we know, but one hypothesis can be supported by more evidence than another. So one hypothesis (ex. there is life on other planets) can be more credible than another (there are advanced underground societies of pigs).

i can dig that

10-11-2012, 01:25 PM	#64 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	There are multiple theories on how species evolve. One that has gained a lot of popularity is the idea that huge leaps in evolution (like speciation) occur rapidly and are interspersed by periods of virtually no evolution. What Conan said actually makes sense in this context... Currently we have reached a plateau of evolution in our species. We evolved self awareness through a time period when our ancestors were presented with a time of plentiful food and had the opportunity to basically just "sit and think about stuff" rather than focus on survival. That brought us to where we are today, so the next step would be to have a time when we didn't have to worry about the fate of the planet or each other. In essence, we could all just sit and think again (or do research). __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

10-12-2012, 12:56 AM	#69 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Just to nitpick a bit. In theory, nothing can ultimately be proven because there's always a chance we're wrong about everything we think we know, but one hypothesis can be supported by more evidence than another. So one hypothesis (ex. there is life on other planets) can be more credible than another (there are advanced underground societies of pigs). __________________ Something Completely Different