Will man ever be able to evolve further now that survival of the fittest doesn't apply?

Question

By this I mean that now humans take care of even those of us who would normally never live to an age where reproduction became possible. Is our humanity and compassion the end of our evolution?

Answer 1

Your point is understandable but survival of the fittest continues to apply. We have not put an end to death, and we continue to have children who are different from us; not clones. These are the two keys to evolution for any species, including humans.

With each new generation of characteristics, the subtle process of evolution is fully active. (Its subtlety is precisely one of the reasons narrow-minded naysayers can't accept that it happens.)

There will always be environmental and cultural factors which are less tolerated by some of us than by others, due to one or more of our unique characteristics (or flaws). Examples I can think of include (but are certainly not limited to!) a resistance to a modern virus; an ability to efficiently metabolize oxygen and nutrients in an increasingly polluted world; an ability to deal with the stress and fast pace of many current cultures; a genetic predisposition which encourages some of us to seek education where it isn't easy to find, or to choose violence when others would choose peaceful actions.

Those of us who live to reproduce will pass on to our children may of those traits which (obviously) have enabled the parents to survive in the circumstances of the modern world, whatever those circumstances are at the time.

True, those circumstances may no longer be a scarcity of food, an exposure to the climate, or an inability to make and use tools. These more primitive factors have been made academic in developed parts of the world by our modern inventions, and those of our ancestors.

But clearly there are factors even in modern culture and environment to which some of our traits are better suited, and some less so. This will be a factor in who lives, who has babies, how many they have and how healthy they are... continuing the process of survival of the fittest.

It could easily be argued, in fact, that far from being the end, compassion is a *step* in our evolution, or a result thereof.

Answer 2

Before I get started I just want to point out that I'm a fan of evolution, not a classroom student of the subject. What I know is taken from wikipedia and various people who have made the subject their lifes work.

I think that the evolution of mankind through the natural selection of survival of the fittest is (more or less) over for the reasons you've stated.

However that isn't all of evolution. Evolution is the proliferation of genes, altered through random mutation, through the gene pool.

I think it's far to say there will always be mutation and therefore evolution. For example there maybe one day a mutation that causes the genes to make blue irises could mutate into genes that make purple irises, since there is no reason for the gene to leave the gene pool it'll proliferate, and those genes can be considered to have evolved.

Answer 3

Its not the end of our evolution, just a temporary pause. The way I look at it, Humans are mostly a product of evolutionary forcing due to the environmental conditions of the Ice Age. There is no real evidence to suggest that the earth has permanently shaken off its periodic climate shifts back and forth from cold glacial conditions to warm interglacial conditions. (These cycles have been repetative over the past 6 million years or so, interestingly, the climate did'nt have these cycles previously)
Anyway, the point is, there are sure to be severe environmental challenges to Humans in the future, and, provided that humans survive the challenges, humans will continue to evolve.

Answer 4

Yes humans will evolve, not necessarily for survival, for example we have five fingers, but we need just four. Maybe after some few thousand years we will have just four fingers. Evolution is about surviving but then again isn't it also about being practical?

Answer 5

Not necessary. Our own environment may one day change reqiring us to adapt and evolve even further. Mutation is also a driving force in evolution.

Answer 6

We are evolving now, and will continue to do so. You have such a poor grasp of time scale. Industrial and medical society have only been in-the-loop for about 200 years. Come back in 10,000 years and see if we're still here and what's been happening. There are 4.5 BILLION years of earth history. You're given a couple of advanced generations and you want to call it quits? You're naive.
The principles of evolution transcend our modern society. We are but a small blip on the screen of Earth history. We will continue in the future to be subjected to the pressures of natural selection and evolution.

Answer 7

I there were ever a environment change that challenged an isolated population and given enough time...yes, we could still evolve. IF we ever begin to colonize other worlds and explore space, I think it's a given.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

This question requires evolution to be factual. Unfortunately for folks who would like it to be fact, the theory of evolution is just that, a theory. I also have trouble with your idea that we are becoming more humane and compassionate. Have you watched the news lately?

Answer 10

no, economy and grave changes in all of our accomplishments such as electric gas water and motorized vehicles comforts if you will came to a complete halt their would be alot alot of people children elders that could no longer adapt this will all change making the wealthy unhealthy and only the poor will survive surprise surprise surprise