Comment by _game_of_life | Hacker News Reader

Comment by _game_of_life | Hacker News Reader

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Devil's advocate: From an evolutionary perspective, our bodies were designed as mere vessels to propagate our genes.

They were not designed to survive 7-8 decades regardless of diet, because by this time reproductive success (and therefore fitness and pressure) is zero for women and almost zero for many men.

Devil's advocate against this point: Grandparents might increase the reproductive success of their children's children, helping their genes propagate in accordance to Kin theory.

Devil's advocate against Devil's advocate of this point: Grandparents might also decrease the reproductive success of their offspring, since they must care for their own children as well as their parents. Hence, the near inescapable phenomena of dementia as age increases into the 100s, and the trait of Senicide (ex. Ättestupa) in many cultures.

My point being, maybe it is best to avoid categorical statements about "evolutionary perspectives."

edit: Correction, Ättestupa is mythological and not a good example of Senecide. The wiki for senecide has many other examples, however.

> My point being, maybe it is best to avoid categorical statements about "evolutionary perspectives."

Indeed, it's a wide, complex topic that I only know a little about, and I only had time for a brief comment.

BTW love your chain of devil's advocate statements. More people should think/counter that way.

Thank you! I am trying to argue with myself more. Partly because I can be a bit of an opinionated know-it-all which is unpleasant and very foolish!

Also I think about how young we are as a species that uses the scientific method to question our reality.

Maybe all of my knowledge today will not stand the test of time, and will be considered just as silly as someone from the 1600s seems to me today? (ex. A natural philosopher that believes in abiogenesis)

But a mutual respect and bond can exist if we both strive to prove ourselves wrong, adapt, and grow.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with your point.

From an evolutionary perspective, “vessels to propagate our genes” carries a lot of baggage with it, including the need to be healthy enough to take a baby to term, care for yourself/other family/group members, and raise it until it reaches sexual maturity, all of which require efficient energy gathering, storage, and usage strategies.

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