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Why are there so many humans?

sapiens.org

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Re: Why are there so many humans?

#11

Post by excalibur »

reedwolf wrote: post #5

I believe all genetically possible humans should be brought into existence. If we imagine the set of all genetic combinations that result in something that could be conceivably thought of as “human,” only an infinitesimal fraction of humans will ever be born through traditional sexual recombination. To be born is to win a lottery with astronomically long odds. As biotechnology advances, we will be able to conceive an…

> Do we, the relatively tiny population of humans who have had the luck to be born, have a duty to the much more vast population of “genetically possible humans” to bring them into existence?

Nope.

Not even a little.

Why would you think we would? Is one of the possibilities Hitler with laser eyes? I would argue that we have a responsibility to PREVENT that particular person from being brought into existence.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#12

Post by snazz »

reedwolf wrote: post #5

I believe all genetically possible humans should be brought into existence. If we imagine the set of all genetic combinations that result in something that could be conceivably thought of as “human,” only an infinitesimal fraction of humans will ever be born through traditional sexual recombination. To be born is to win a lottery with astronomically long odds. As biotechnology advances, we will be able to conceive an…

Would that not be some astronomically large number of humans? Trillions or even more? DNA is huge and there are a lot of different combinations that would vaguely resemble Homo sapiens.

I feel like this concept hinges upon the assumption that genetics determine a person, which is not true. In my opinion, it's more important to raise people in all kinds of environments than to have every genetic individual in existence. Two genetically different individuals raised in an identical situation would likely behave similarly.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#13

Post by golergka »

reedwolf wrote: post #5

I believe all genetically possible humans should be brought into existence. If we imagine the set of all genetic combinations that result in something that could be conceivably thought of as “human,” only an infinitesimal fraction of humans will ever be born through traditional sexual recombination. To be born is to win a lottery with astronomically long odds. As biotechnology advances, we will be able to conceive an…

Aren't you forgetting about epigenetics? Human being's development is not only defined by the DNA code.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#14

Post by golergka »

yesenadam wrote: post #3

Arghh it's that site with the "Yes I love humans" / "No I'm not human" popup obscuring the screen after a few seconds again. It's kind of cute, but my natural response to that is back button. I don't know what it's trying to say. Can't be just me it puts off like that. What a shame, it seemed like a fascinating article.

Just disable Javascript. It makes almost all content-based sites so much better and easier to read.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#15

Post by pmoriarty »

reedwolf wrote: post #5

I believe all genetically possible humans should be brought into existence. If we imagine the set of all genetic combinations that result in something that could be conceivably thought of as “human,” only an infinitesimal fraction of humans will ever be born through traditional sexual recombination. To be born is to win a lottery with astronomically long odds. As biotechnology advances, we will be able to conceive an…

"I'm sure we'll be able to identify extremely negative mutations and either fix them or abandon those genomes."

We? Who's we?

And what do you mean by "extremely negative mutations"? Who are the curators of humanity who gets to decide that?

What if the engineered people you consider to be "extremely neagtive" don't want to be "fixed"?

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#16

Post by redis_mlc »

> “Then two technologies were introduced that changed these Maya’s lives and, ultimately, their population: a gas-powered water pump and two gas-powered maize grinders. [..] By 2003, women who started reproducing in the 1970s had eight to 12 children.”

Gotta wonder if the women thought that was progress, or not.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#17

Post by ericmcer »

Are we entering a new phase in human existence? The close knit tribe that thrived with cooperation is definitely in its death throes right now, at least in the developed world. Is it possible for us to cooperate on a global scale though, or are we still too primitive, our consciousness too weak to comprehend our place in such a massive system.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#19

Post by chadcmulligan »

ericmcer wrote: post #17

Are we entering a new phase in human existence? The close knit tribe that thrived with cooperation is definitely in its death throes right now, at least in the developed world. Is it possible for us to cooperate on a global scale though, or are we still too primitive, our consciousness too weak to comprehend our place in such a massive system.

> The close knit tribe that thrived with cooperation is definitely in its death throes right now

Is it? I think there are a lot of social systems that are being tested at the moment, some are failing. There are many developed countries that are improving their cooperation in the current crisis - I'm in one - Australia, there are others that have seemed to come together, and others that have failed abysmally. No doubt the ones that have had trouble will examine and regroup, maybe some won't. I can imagine if you're in a country with a thousand deaths a day, things don't look good.

Re: Why are there so many humans?

#20

Post by skadamou »

golergka wrote: post #13
reedwolf wrote: post #5

I believe all genetically possible humans should be brought into existence. If we imagine the set of all genetic combinations that result in something that could be conceivably thought of as “human,” only an infinitesimal fraction of humans will ever be born through traditional sexual recombination. To be born is to win a lottery with astronomically long odds. As biotechnology advances, we will be able to conceive an…

Aren't you forgetting about epigenetics? Human being's development is not only defined by the DNA code.

This. Even if you could conceivably account for every feasible epigenetic difference possible in every conceivable genetically distinct human, I'm not sure what the point is. Twins are still different people with different experiences and personalities even if they are nearly genetically (and epigenetically - at least at first) identical. I feel like the spirit of OPs post is humans in a post scarcity society have a duty to bring into existence every feasible distinct human experience. But this is impossible because DNA and even epigenetics does not encompass all that makes a person unique and distinct.
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