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Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

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Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#21

I look forward to the day a majority of people realize that our biology is, to a large extent, something to be overcome. Our "natural" biological impulses are often incredibly destructive, for both ourselves (e.g. sugar cravings) and for those around us (e.g. the impulses in this article).

Our "natural" biological impulses are often incredibly destructive

Tribalism is easily the most destructive of our impulses, especially in the way in which it can interact with ideology. Through ideology, such tribal impulses can camouflage their own effects and short circuit the "better angels of our nature" to excuse the dehumanization end even the slaughter of the out group.

I think that's the last great barrier to humans finally "waking up from history."

In particular, the way tribalism and in-group/out-group psychology interposes itself into political discussions is especially pernicious -- especially in the ways it manifests over the internet in social media. Fear isn't the mind killer. It's ideology combined with tribalism! If humankind ever destroys itself, in all likelihood, some group will have ideologically convinced itself that it should do so for some incredibly noble reasons.

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#23
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people spend a great deal of time fighting their impulses in order to behave in a proper socialized manner: go to work, be nice, clean up, call your mom, don't procrastinate, etc.

The really frustrating part is that people that do not behave in a 'proper' way often seem to get way ahead in life. No such thing as a just world.

Believing in a just world is another quirk of biology to overcome.

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#25
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people spend a great deal of time fighting their impulses in order to behave in a proper socialized manner: go to work, be nice, clean up, call your mom, don't procrastinate, etc.

The really frustrating part is that people that do not behave in a 'proper' way often seem to get way ahead in life. No such thing as a just world.

Do they? Care to elaborate?

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#26

I look forward to the day a majority of people realize that our biology is, to a large extent, something to be overcome. Our "natural" biological impulses are often incredibly destructive, for both ourselves (e.g. sugar cravings) and for those around us (e.g. the impulses in this article).

I've been thinking of this as a sci-fi concept recently. On Star Trek all the other races have this singular defining trait, vulcans are logical, klingons are warriors, ferengi are greedy. The defining trait of humans is going against their natural impulses. We evolved from violent savage apes yet strive toward peace. Some choose veganism. Others choose celibacy.

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#27
post #16
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is also how I see things going. Humans end more or less, and give birth to machine children. I don't think any part of it will be perfect though. It'll just be some starting condition playing out according to platonic principles interacting with arbitrary specifics like how far the nearest reserve of iron is in the universe, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_(novel)

I'm not clever enough to relate these to each other.

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#28
post #11
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my theory of life -- humanity will eventually create a "perfect" version of ourselves, which with then exterminate us because we are inferior, and then the AI-human race will create a perfect society and branch off to explore the universe.

> "perfect" version of ourselves, which with then exterminate us because we are inferior The latter makes it sound like a much worse version of ourselves.

Yeah, copy that. I'd like to think a "perfect" version of ourselves would branch out to explore the galaxy and use part of their resource gathering capacity to compassionately provide for and nurture their Earthbound meat parents.

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#29
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people spend a great deal of time fighting their impulses in order to behave in a proper socialized manner: go to work, be nice, clean up, call your mom, don't procrastinate, etc.

The really frustrating part is that people that do not behave in a 'proper' way often seem to get way ahead in life. No such thing as a just world.

Almost as if the "proper" behavior isn't really optimal...

Re: Evolution of Sexual Intimidation: Male Baboons Beat Up Females, Increases Mating

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree with you, but it's profound to think our goal is to evolve to no longer be human. Perhaps machine intelligence will be the better version of ourselves; we're just the bootstrap code.

> but it's profound to think our goal is to evolve to no longer be human. What makes us human? We know from experience that children are often cruel towards other animals, even other children,and get drunk on power too easily. So this kind of aggression is something innate, right? But we have learned from experience that it's not good for us as a society, so we train them( at least in most cultures) to be kind and co…

Now what is more human then - human body or that of an android? Of course android body. It doesn't matter that it is not innate because we weren't born with it. What matters is that we have consciously chosen to build it and replace our body.

If you keep going with the theme of 'the changes we come up with are more human than what is innate', where does it end?

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