Live data from Hacker News

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

newsweek.com

11–20 of 58 posts

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

#11
post #5

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.

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.

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

#12
post #5

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.

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.

I think we are already perfect.

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

#13
post #5

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.

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.

[deleted]

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

#14
post #8

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).

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.

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

#15
post #5

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.

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.

I also think that mankind destiny it to create by bio-engineering the specie that will replace us. Of course that view doesn't take in account civilization collapse or culture change that might turn humanity away from science.

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

#16
post #10
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.

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)

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

#17
post #12
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.

I think we are already perfect.

Evolution does not strive for perfection, it is a utility function without so much as a moments pause for what you might think.

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

#18
post #7
post #4

The article ends with: "It doesn’t mean it has an evolutionary basis." If not evolution, then what? Doesn't all behavior have an evolutionary basis?

No. There is a technical term for this - can someone help me out? I can't remember it....

Philanthropy?

Selflessness?

Sacrifice?

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

#19
post #7
post #4

The article ends with: "It doesn’t mean it has an evolutionary basis." If not evolution, then what? Doesn't all behavior have an evolutionary basis?

No. There is a technical term for this - can someone help me out? I can't remember it....

Yes. They're called non-adaptive traits or spandrels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel_(biology)

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

#20
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.

yeah -- but most of them don't.
Post reply on HN