"Evolutionists" - sheesh I hate that term. Anyway, do you believe that our physical evolution...?

Question

... has ceased and that our further advancement will come in the form of technology and/or knowledge (perhaps including an increase in our ability to use our existing mental faculties)?

Yeah, I'd post this in biology but most of them aren't great at rational speculation. :)

Answer 1

Because we have nothing further to adapt to because we don't do anything!

Wow, judging from the thumbs down, no one understood what I was saying....fantastic.

The premise of the question is that humans do not seem to be evolving physically per se, anymore, but rather technology advancing may make so that, regardless of your genetics, if you are human, you will survive. Thus, though technology will invariably increase because society is best suited to those that are of high intelligence, that very same advancement will insure that EVERYONE eventually will live for incredible periods of time, have little death based on actual lack of merit, and thus create a gene pool where no particular traits gain any lee-way, and thus making it so mutations never receive the scenario in which they would prosper.

Of course, I am sure you disagree with that too.

Answer 2

No, I don't think physical evolution has ceased. I know people often make that argument based on the idea that we manage to avoid what would have been the undoing of natural selection, but that isn't the only component of evolution. As means of travel become cheaper and cheaper, and things like genetic drift come into play, the gene pools are certainly going to change.

And of course, 1) evolution is not about following some ladder of "higher" species or advancement, and 2) it's something that in this case you're not going to notice in a lifetime.

Answer 3

With technology creating an environment, you will see a tendency towards the average. People who are too tall or too short will do poorly in vehicular accidents for example. Nutritional variations, being reduced will help drive the tendency to the mean. Improved mental abilities will have some impact on survival, but until the population stops growing, the competitive pressure will not reveal a direction.

Answer 4

No. This is a common misconception.

Actually the evolution of humanity has INCREASED!

Evolution is the amount of variation and mutation in a species. Natural Selection is responsible for selecting the best mutations out of the bunch and REDUCING the variation.

With all of our technology we have overcome the normal physical and natural threats thereby eliminating the stronger forces of natural selection. This has allowed for more mutations (many not so good ones) to flourish and remain int he gene pool.

With the advancement of our technology we will only increase the rate at which we evolve.

Answer 5

For those who accept the Theory of Evolution. I would try that, it is far less idiotic than 'evolutionists', and I mean that not in a mean way for once.

Evolution describes the process of natural selection. I think that it is fairly obvious that humans evolution has switched from the physical to the intellectual. We do not hunt, or do much at all to survive as we used to. Any physical activity tends to be optional, or recreational. Our brains are far more important than our brawn, so it makes sense that that is where the focus will remain.

Imho.

Answer 6

Well... it's the gene pool that 'evolves'... not individuals. But yes... genetic drift occurs all the time. And I just read (can't remember where... I read so much) that there is genetic evidence of natural selection having occurred (in humans) within the past 5,000 years.

To a large degree, I think that 'natural selection' has been replaced to a large degree by what I like to think of as 'cultural selection'. For example, for about 1,400 years, christians basically tortured and killed most of the best people that humanity produced over that period... which could account for why only around 10% of Americans seem to be capable of critical thinking.

It is likely, though, that we will soon be in charge of our own evolution... barring any major large reduction in population, isolation of populations, and new environmental stressors.

Answer 7

Evolution is not driven by the selection process. Evolution is driven by the genes replicating. If there is no selection pressure constraining evolution then every mutation survives and evolution goes explosive. Many divergent species appear.

When technology developed it removed a lot of the selection pressures. If you look around you realize how many people alive today would have died without modern medicine, machines or other modern tech.

When the pressures of disease, hunger or competition return full force then we shall see what evolution and selection leave.

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Kenshin Himura has it right, even if he puts an optimist spin on it.

Answer 8

I certainly don't feel qualified to speak with any certainty here but there is research coming out that suggest we are still evolving in the areas that we still have selective pressure on. The two I am aware of are studies that suggest human brain evolution is not only continuing but at a rather rapid pace from what they expected and also changes in our diet are spurring changes in our biology.

I'll try to post links to reports or summaries on the recent research in these areas.

Answer 9

I think we will likely cause our own demise before this can be debated to any conclusion. Every special interest group seems to be hell bent on proving that they have a lock on the "Truth." Anyone that thinks we are heading for world peace is a dreamer. To give a proper answer, yes. I believe we will only advance by adaptation, which is not the same as evolution. Thank you for a question that is thought provoking without being inflammatory. I think "evolutionist and fundie" are generalizations usually used as slurs.

Answer 10

I think that selection based on survival has decreased and sexual selection is now the most important factor driving human evolution. That doesn't bode well for big brains.

Also note that human evolution is not being driven very strongly because two factors which are integral to evolution - pressure (e.g. limited resources, disease, competing species, competition within a species, etc.) and isolation - are absent from the bulk of the human population.

Answer 11

Physical evolution takes place in fits and starts. There's no telling if or when it will strike again. Sharks have remained unchanged since the Age of Dinosaurs. We could change at any time if we split up into disconnected groups for long enough.
We probably won't see any more evolution unless we destroy our world.